What
is the VascuLight IPL System?
At long last, a new treatment strategy has
recently been introduced to revolutionize
vein therapy and the treatment of the widest
range of vascular conditions and lesions.
This breakthrough technology is pulsed laser
light at a near infrared wavelength combined
with a broad band of intense pulsed light
(IPL). The solution is called IPL VascuLight
and it produces effective and log-lasting
results.
This is not the conventional laser mechanics
found in other devices. Rather, VascuLight
uses innovative laser physics and advanced
computer software to successfully treat a
full range of vascular structures, from deep
and very large veins and birthmarks to shallow
lesions and tiny spider veins. Unlike other
non-invasive techniques, VascuLight successfully
"zaps" large blood vessels up to
3 mm in diameter and as great as 5 mm in depth,
including difficult reticular and feeder veins.
How does PhotoDerm/
VascuLight work on veins?
With its proprietary Multiple Synchronized
Pulsing capabilities, VascuLight selectively
heats different sizes of broken blood vessels
at different depths below the skin's surface
with excellent results. This enables physicians
to treat complex and interwoven networks of
big twisted vessels and webs of small capillaries
with pinpoint control, eliminating the damaged
veins and sparing the adjacent healthy ones.
Moreover, one to three VascuLight pulses can
achieve complete closure and sealing of the
vessels, preventing the return of blood flow
and recurrence of unsightly veins.
What will happen
during the treatment?
The physician and nurse will discuss your
case with you. Photographs are usually taken.
You will be asked to read and sign a consent
form. Before treatment begins, the physician
customizes VascuLight's settings according
to your skin color, the type of vein or condition
being treated, and its location on your body.
Then a clear gel is placed on the site to
be treated. This helps focus the light energy
and cool the skin. You will be given dark
glasses to shield your eyes from the bursts
of light as the laser light is applied. The
only sensation experienced during the treatment
is a sting, like the snapping of a rubber
band or a sharp pinch. By using ice and cold
gel on the skin to be treated, discomfort
in minimized.
How many treatment
sessions will it take?
Depending on the type and severity of the
condition being treated, your physician may
recommend anywhere from one to four VascuLight
treatment sessions to achieve the desired
outcome. An individual session generally lasts
about an hour from arrival to departure. Repeat
treatments, when necessary, are usually done
every 6 weeks.
How much improvement
will I have?
Some immediate improvement is typically visible,
with the veins, blotches and/or blemishes
disappearing over two to three weeks. Complications,
such as blisters, scarring, bleeding and pigment
loss, seldom occur. Most patients return to
their regular routines quickly with virtually
no after-care required. However, you may experience
some redness or bruising around the treated
area. This usually goes away in just a few
days to several weeks. Realistic expectations
for improvement and not perfection are essential.
What type of
post-treatment care is necessary?
Care for the treated areas gently. We will
recommend a gel you can use for discomfort
as needed. Avoid sun exposure for about 3
months. You will be given written instructions
at the time of treatment.
Is this procedure
covered by insurance?
Insurance reimbursement varies from state
to state and carrier to carrier. Most insurance
companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic
conditions. It's best to consult your individual
carrier for more information on your specific
type of treatment.
I've had other
treatments for varicose and spider veins,
and sometimes the problem comes back over
time. Does VascuLight offer a permanent solution
for these conditions?
VascuLight's Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and
laser system provides complete and virtually
permanent closure of damaged and ruptured
veins, both large and small, both near the
surface and further below it. Since the vein
is completely closed, blood cannot flow back
into it; consequently, over time the vein
simply disintegrates and is absorbed by the
body. Other treatment types may not produce
this complete vein closure. Be aware, however,
that patients may develop varicose veins in
other areas as time passes.
I spend a lot
of time outdoors, so I usually have a pretty
good tan. Can I still be treated with the
laser energy of the VascuLight system?
One of the advances of the VascuLight system
is its ability to treat virtually all skin
types and colors, at any time of the year.
This is due to its long, near infrared laser
wavelength that easily passes through the
melanin, the material that gives color to
the skin.
How can I prevent
varicose veins and spider veins in the future?
If your job or other parts of your life require
you spend a lot of time standing up, consider
buying some kind of cushioning floor mat that
will take some of the pressure off your legs.
Placing these mats by the sink where you do
dishes, or at the stove, or at a cash register
where you work, can help alleviate vein problems
and their symptoms--and make your legs feel
less tired as well! You might also consider
wearing special hosiery to help improve circulation.
|
