Facial Vein Removal

Facial vein removal is a procedure that reduces the appearance of spider veins or broken blood vessels (capillaries) on the face. These veins are not dangerous, but they can be unattractive, causing a reddening of the facial skin.

Half of people over the age of 50 develop facial spider veins. These red veins usually appear on the nose and cheeks, although bluish reticular veins may also appear under the eyes or the lower cheeks and jaw.

Spider veins on the face can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • Sun exposure
  • Genetics
  • Hormonal fluctuations
  • Steroid medications
  • Pregnancy

Spider Vein Removal Techniques

We use two procedures for facial vein removal – the IPL and the Candela V-beam laser.

IPL. While the IPL uses highly targeted light, it is not technically a laser. Before your procedure, a local anesthetic cream is applied to your skin, followed by a cooling gel. The rapid pulsed light of the IPL instrument then treats the broken blood vessels. The intensity of the IPL’s light can be adjusted for your comfort and for the level of treatment you need. Learn more about IPL.

Laser Treatment. We use the Candela V-beam laser, which, like the IPL, uses highly concentrated, gentle pulsed light to destroy the broken blood vessels. Because the light is so targeted, the surrounding skin remains intact.

Like sclerotherapy for leg spider veins, the IPL and laser light seals the veins, cutting off blood flow. The veins are then reabsorbed by the body, and blood flow is redirected to healthier veins that cannot be seen through the surface of the skin.

What to Expect From Your Facial Vein Treatment

Most people describe facial vein removal as similar to the snap of a rubber band against the skin. No real downtime or recovery period is necessary. You can return to work and most normal activities right away.

Your skin may appear redder at first, but makeup can be applied immediately to cover it. You may also experience some slight bruising and inflammation, or even scabbing in some cases. Many people feel something akin to a sun burn for a short time after the procedure.

If you are uncomfortable after your treatment, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication and/or use an ice pack. Within a few hours to a week, the redness and discomfort will begin to disappear, and your skin will look brighter and clearer with fewer spider veins.

Most people require at least three treatments and up to five treatments every four weeks. Your skin will be more vulnerable to the sun for a period of weeks after your treatment, so it is even more important to wear sun block when outdoors.

New spider veins may develop over time, but the regular use of sun block often prevents a recurrence of the condition.

Facial vein removal is a non-surgical, non-invasive cosmetic procedure to clear the facial skin of unsightly spider veins.

Contact our office at (415) 362-2238 to find out more about facial vein removal in San Francisco.