Vbeam
What is the Candela Vbeam Perfecta pulsed dye laser?
The pulsed dye laser has a well documented history of safely and effectively treating vascular lesions for over 15 years. It is designed to deliver an intense but gentle burst of laser light to the skin. The laser light is specifically absorbed by the blood vessels in the vascular lesion. These vessels are gently heated and coagulated. The body absorbs the treated blood vessels during the natural healing process.
The laser has a unique ability to selectively target the blood vessels of a vascular lesion without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue. It is so safe and effective that it has been used successfully for the treatment of infants as young as a few weeks old. The skin is protected during laser treatment by Candela’s proprietary Dynamic Cooling Device which sprays a cool liquid onto the skin before each laser pulse, cooling the upper layers and providing patients with increased comfort.
What conditions are treated with laser?
- Telangiectasia or facial and nasal spider veins
- Rosacea (red facial lesions)- affecting the skin of the face, nose and cheeks causing a red blush or sunburn look
- Port wine stains/red birthmarks and strawberry hemangiomas-red lesions that grow rapidly after birth and may impair the function of another organ
- Spider Veins-commonly seen on the legs. The precise origin of the disorder is unknown but reports have shown that pregnancy, hormonal changes, weight gain, leg injury or prolonged standing may influence the occurrence
- Poikiloderma-patchy discoloration of the skin on the neck
What precautions should be taken before and after treatments?
It is recommended to avoid exposure to the sun and tanning of the areas to be treated throughout the course of treatment. Immediately following the treatment, the areas may be slightly swollen, sensitive and may feel warm. The post-operative care recommended is to:
- Avoid sun exposure or tanning
- Apply ice for discomfort
- Apply ointment or topical antibiotic cream if needed
In addition, care should be taken in the first few days following treatments to avoid scrubbing or rinsing the area with abrasive skin cleansers. A small bandage or patch may be helpful in preventing abrasion of the treated area. Pressure bandages/compression stockings may be required postoperatively after leg vein treatment, based on guidance from your physician.
What does laser treatment involve?
- Wearing safety eye wear to protect the patient’s eyes from the intense laser light
- A small handpiece will be used by the physician to deliver the laser energy to the skin
- A light spray of coolant onto the skin will be felt just before each laser pulse
- The degree of discomfort varies on his/her pain threshold
- Topical anesthesia may also be requested based on individual preferences or tolerances
- Be sure to discuss this with your physician in advance of the laser treatment.
Are there any side effects with the laser treatment?
Patients may experience some temporary discoloration or reddening of the skin around the treatment site. Pigmentary changes in the skin color may be experienced by some patients. The skin will typically return to normal pigmentation over time.