The “Gold Standard” treatment for many birthmarks and broken blood vessels
Our patients receive the benefits of the laser system considered by physicians world-wide as the “Gold Standard” for the treatment of a wide variety of vascular skin conditions.
More than 15 years ago, the Candela Laser Corporation first invented pulsed dye laser technology. The VBeam laser system is the newest vascular laser manufactured by Candela.
Candela VBeam laser therapy is gentle enough for use on infants as young as a few weeks old, yet powerful enough to treat most adult skin problems.
In addition to the best standard of care currently available in the industry, the VBeam is less painful than other vascular laser systems. This is due to Candela’s exclusive technology known as DCD, Dynamic Cooling Device. DCD sprays a liquid onto the skin before each laser pulse, cooling the upper layers of skin, and providing increased comfort to patients. VBeam is the only pulsed dye laser with DCD integrated into the system.
What conditions are treated with the Candela VBeam laser?
- Telangiectasias – commonly known as facial spider veins or broken blood vessels.
- Rosacea (red face) – affecting the skin of the face around the nose, chin, and cheeks causing a blush or sunburned look.
- Angiomas – small red spots which may be slightly raised or just beneath the surface of the skin.
- Port Wine Stain Birthmarks – vascular lesions that grow rapidly after birth and may impair the function of another organ.
- Scars – red raised scars that are often caused by surgery, trauma, or burns.
- Stretch Marks – frequently appearing after pregnancy over the stomach, thighs, buttocks, and lower back.
How does the Candela Vbeam Laser Work
The Candela Vbeam produces an intense but gentle burst of light that selectively destroys the blood vessels of your spider veins, without damaging the surrounding tissue. After laser treatment the surrounding tissue is left intact.
Are There Other Ways to Treat My Vascular Lesion?
For leg spider veins, some patients have received Sclerotherapy. This mode of therapy has been very effective in the past but can cause hyperpigmentation or pigment discoloration from 6 weeks to 24 months. Also, this mode of therapy can be painful and uncomfortable postoperatively, requiring specific care. For other types of vascular lesions, such as Port Wine Stain birthmarks, stretch marks, scars, facial spider veins or warts, some patients have tried surgery, electrocautery, cryotherapy (freezing the area) or tattooing. These procedures often result in scarring or may leave an unsatisfactory result. Other lasers such as the Ruby Laser, Argon Laser and CO2 Laser have also been used to treat vascular lesions. These lasers are not as specific to the destruction of the blood vessels in the vascular lesions and have resulted in scarring in many individuals. Because of the chance of scarring, the use of these lasers in infants and young children is not recommended. If you have been treated by other modalities which resulted in scarring or loss of pigment, the lesion may not respond as well with the Candela Laser therapy. The scarring or loss of pigment may become more evident after treatment with the VBeam.
Are There Any Reasons that Would Not Make Me a Candidate for VBeam Therapy?
The Candela Vbeam is not recommended for patients who are darkly pigmented. Because of the increase in skin pigment the laser will be less effective on damaging the blood vessels of the spider veins or other vascular lesion to be treated. The depth of penetration of the Candela Vbeam is limited to vessels about 1.5mm in depth. Therefore, vessels deeper than this may not respond to the therapy. Additionally, blue vessels may not respond as well as red ones.
What Should I Expect From This Laser Treatment?
Treatment with the Vbeam may consist of multiple treatments. For facial veins, one treatment may be sufficient for clearance but a second visit is recommended for the best results. These treatments occur on an average of every six to twelve weeks. Each individual situation may vary and it is best to discuss yours with the physician. The type of vascular lesion to be treated will determine the number of treatments needed. The red veins respond better than blue veins and the smaller, matting vessels will respond sooner than the vessels up to 1.5mm in size. Port wine stain lesions have more vessels to be treated and require multiple treatments but the number of treatments is unknown in advance.
Are There Any Adverse Effects?
With any laser therapy there is a possibility for adverse effects. The following are adverse effects that may occur with the Candela Vbeam: 1. The treated area may hyperpigment, or appear darker after the bruising/red discoloration heals. Normal skin color usually returns within 6 months after laser therapy. 2. Scarring is a risk with the use of any laser. The Candela Vbeam has had no reported incidence of scarring. If the post treatment skin care instructions are not followed, this can increase the chance of scarring. 3. The treated area may show a slight depression after the laser treatments. This depression usually resolves within a few months.
Will the Laser Treatment Hurt?
The DCD (Dynamic Cooling Device) which is built into the laser system, delivers a short burst or spray of cryogen just prior to the laser pulse being delivered. The DCD has been instrumental in reducing pain associated with treatment, as well as reducing the possibility of blister/scab formation. In some instances, a topical cream anesthetic or local injection can be used if requested. The feeling of a laser pulse has been described as being snapped by a rubber band or a slight stinging sensation. Following laser treatment, the area may continue to sting slightly or feel warm like a sunburn. If a large area is to be treated, anesthesia may be used. A small test area can be performed before the entire area is treated to evaluate your pain tolerance. Most patients tolerate this procedure without any need for anesthesia. Applying ice packs post-operatively can alleviate any discomfort experienced during the procedure.
EFFICACY – Our redesigned treatment tips deliver enhanced heat distribution and uniformity, which lead to improved volumetric heating. A greater volume of tissue is heated to target temperatures and the heating is more evenly distributed across the treatment area. Data from our clinical study demonstrates that the Thermage CPT system heats four times more tissue to therapeutic temperatures than current technologies.
PATIENT SATISFACTION – Patients will be happier with the results and the treatment experience with the Thermage CPT system.
100% of study patients preferred treatment with the Thermage CPT system vs. treatment with prior technologies. Average patient satisfaction scores 3 months post treatment were 4.2 out of 5 (1=dissatisfied, 5=very satisfied).
