Medical Laser Blog - Fotona Straight Talk for the Physician

Telangiectasia by any other name would still look as unsightly.

Spider veins are a common cosmetic and physiologic problem for both men and women.  Veins on the face, legs and elsewhere are commonplace resulting in social anxiety.  Leg veins often cause people to stop wearing shorts or swimsuits.  Facial veins are felt by the bearers to make them look like a “drunk” or just look older than they are.  In our youth obsessed and competitive job market, that is a real issue for many.  

About 25% of the business in our clinic is for spider veins.  Here in the US, I have been treating spider veins since 1987.  I started out with sclerotherapy and as lasers got better and better, changed over to all laser in about 2001.  Now I would not think of doing veins without a laser.  The results are better, it is less painful and we see fewer side effects.  We use the Fotona Nd:YAG laser system.  The great thing about Fotona lasers is that the various models do not compromise outcomes or safety.  The main difference between models is speed.  So if your only interest is in spider veins you could do quite well with a lower end, lower power model.  On the other hand if you are interested in a multifunction machine you will need all the power you can afford.

Many companies still say they cannot do a good job on certain veins.  But for laser spider vein removal, I will tell you we routinely treat veins on any and all body parts with great results. 

THE TOP 15 AESTHETIC PROCEDURES

Recent surveys have shown the following to be the 15 most popular aesthetic procedures:

 

1. Botox
2. Soft Tissue Fillers
3. Laser Hair Removal
4. Microdermabrasion
5. Facial Rejuvenation - IPL
6. Chemical Peel
7. Laser Facial Peels
8. Sclerotherapy
9. Facial Rejuvenation – Non-Invasive Tightening
10. Laser Leg Veins
11. Facial Rejuvenation - Fractional
12. Soft Tissue Filler - Radiance/Radiesse
13. Soft Tissue Filler - Collagen
14. Soft Tissue Filler - Autologous Fat
15. Soft Tissue Filler - Sculptra

 

Now, several of these are really the same thing.  Numbers 2, 12,13,14,15 are all really just fillers of one sort or another.  Fillers are great for the pharmaceutical company that makes them, but there is not much margin in them. The same is true for number 1, Botox.   Now, I am not saying don’t do them.  I am just saying they are more of a “lost leader.”  You need to provide them to fill out your services menu, but they are not going to be your bread and butter.

 

That leaves 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. The Fotona platforms can accomplish these procedures with excellent results.  Take a look at number 8 - sclerotherapy.  I know you have heard that lasers are not as good as sclerotherapy, but I am here to tell you differently. 

 

I have been doing sclerotherapy since 1989, and I can tell you I am good at it.  But in a head to head competition between my wife (RN and Laser operator) and me (MD and sclerotherapist extraordinaire)… She won!  The Fotona XP Max can do spider veins from the smallest to 4 or even 8 mm, on any body part with less pain, less bruising, faster healing. That’s my experience.  So now I rarely do sclerotherapy, as the Fotona laser is just that good.

 

As for the other procedures on the list, let me just say… Fotona hands down!

Spider vein treatments - why provide them in your office

Spider veins are a common concern.  Almost everyone over 50 has them.  Many people are embarrassed by them.  Some even alter their behavior because of them.  And yet they are simple, safe and fun to treat.  People often tell me they no longer wear shorts or go to the pool or beach due to their spider veins.
 
Spider veins, also called telangiectasia, are small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes.  They are generally 0.1 to 1mm in diameter.  Women are affected about 4 to 1 over men. Pregnancy is a key factor contributing to the formation of spider veins. The most important factor is circulating hormones that weaken vein walls. There's also a significant increase in the blood volume during pregnancy, which tends to distend veins. Moreover, later in pregnancy, the enlarged uterus can compress veins, causing higher vein pressure leading to dilated veins.
 
With the right technology, spider veins on the face, legs or other part of the body can be effectively treated with laser.  Generally spider veins are treated in just one or two sessions with excellent results.
 
So why should you be treating them?  Because they are common in the patients already in your practice.  Your patients want them gone, and are going elsewhere to have that done. Treatment is easy with the right technology. In addition this is generally not “one more thing” for you to do.  This is a procedure you can delegate to a staff member.  So while you are doing your regular clinic, a nurse is doing these cash procedures.  How much cash? In my practice it is about $800 per hour.