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Frequently Asked Questions for Veins
Frequently Asked Questions for PhotoFacial® Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Hair Removal Frequently Asked Questions for Veins
What causes varicose and spider veins? Although genetics, childbirth, and female gender are the most important predisposing factors, the actual cause is related to incompetent valves in the larger veins, which lead to reflux of blood in the wrong direction back toward the foot. Normally, venous blood should flow up the leg toward the heart. When blood is forced by gravity in the wrong direction, (toward the foot) the abnormal varicose and spider veins can bulge and become distended. It is this distension that often causes the symptoms of aching, swelling, tiredness, heaviness, cramping, burning, and itching. Unlike the arteries where blood is moved by the pumping action of the heart, the veins utilize the muscles in your legs to return the blood back to the heart. When the valves do not work properly, the blood has difficulty moving against gravity up toward the heart. As a result, blood backs up in the veins causing them to become swollen, bulging, and tortuous. These large veins are called varicose veins. Spider veins result when the pressure from the deeper veins is transmitted to the smaller, more superficial veins, causing them to also enlarge. I heard that crossing your legs and walking on concrete floors causes spider and varicose veins. Is that true? No! These are merely wive's tales and have nothing to do with the pathogenesis of varicose and spider veins. How are these abnormal veins treated? Treatment options include sclerotherapy or injection of veins with an irritating solution, laser treatments, photoderm or intense pulsed light treatments, and surgery or endovenous laser treatments for the largest veins. The Happel Laser & Vein Centre can provide all of these available options as well as multiple modalities if your individual condition should require a combined approach. Why should I have my veins treated? What would happen if I just left them alone and did nothing at all? Treatment of these veins can help to relieve symptoms. In addition, if they are left untreated, these veins can cause: 1. Phlebitis: Phlebitis is a recurring, painful condition involving the vein and the surrounding skin which is caused by a blood clot within the vein. The area becomes red, warm, tender, swollen, and hard from the blood clot. 2. Ulceration of the skin: Ulceration can also occur, usually around the ankle, and is very painful often requiring months to heal. 3. Stasis dermatitis: Permanent brown discoloration of the skin, usually also around the ankles, is a frequent sequelae of untreated varicose veins. 4. Bleeding: Although rare, when this occurs it is often frightening because large amounts of blood are usually lost requiring an emergency room visit to suture the bleeding vein. Will treatment of my abnormal veins adversely affect my circulation? Don't I need those veins and where will the blood go? When spider or varicose veins are treated, the normal nearby veins take over and carry the blood. Your circulation is not damaged by the treatment of these abnormal veins. There are many spare veins that take over when these abnormal veins are removed. In addition, 90% of the blood that passes through the veins in the legs is carried by the deep veins, which are not superficially visible. I heard that there is a good chance that the veins, which are treated, may come back. Is that true? While true recurrence is unlikely for the veins that are adequately treated, new varicose and spider will veins tend to recur in different locations. This is likely to occur in people who have a family history of spider or varicose veins and unfortunately this is the natural history of this gravity-related disorder. What can I do to prevent varicose or spider veins in my children or myself? At one time it was believed that support stockings, elevation, weight loss, and exercise were beneficial to prevent varicose veins. However, now it is felt that there is no way to prophylactically prevent these abnormal veins from occurring and genetics is a more important factor in determining the development of these abnormal veins. Frequently Asked Questions for PhotoFacial®
What is a PhotoFacial® Utilizing visible light delivered in short gentle pulses by computerized laser-like equipment in our office, the problem of sun damaged and aged skin of the face can finally be addressed. PhotoFacials® are a new and unique technological breakthrough that can effectively treat facial redness, "broken" blood vessels on the cheeks, nose, forehead, chin and neck, as well as many other visible signs of photo aging. PhotoFacials® result in a softer, smoother, more even skin tone, and a more youthful appearing skin resulting in a reversal of the aging process. This rejuvenation is achieved by stimulating the production of elastin (for increased elasticity and tightness) and collagen (to treat fine lines and wrinkles). This is a noninvasive method of photo rejuvenation that can improve the appearance of the skin with no downtime. Treatments are quick and easy. What is rosacea and can PhotoFacial® help this condition? Rosacea is a common disorder, which typically involves the skin of the nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, and neck resulting in facial redness, flushing, dilated capillaries, and occasionally intermittent breakouts of acne. It is believed that approximately 13 million Americans probably suffer from this disorder, although this may just be a conservative estimate. There are oral medications, antibiotics, steroids and creams, which may help to partially control the acne-like breakouts. Until recently, with the development of the PhotoFacial®, there has not been an effective treatment for the embarrassing facial redness and flushing that rosacea sufferers experience. In fact, the continued use of cortisone creams to control the redness and outbreaks often will eventually even aggravate the condition. With this laser-like medical breakthrough (Multilight and Vasculight), Dr. Happel is able to individualize and adjust your PhotoFacial® treatments to address your specific problem (whether it is redness and dilated capillaries or pigmentation from sun damage or rough texture, fine lines, large pores or a combination of these conditions). Am I a candidate for PhotoFacial®? Over 70 million people in this country suffer from unattractive sun damaged or reddened facial skin. Many of these people are of northern European ancestry, have outdoor occupations, interests or hobbies, and sometimes suffer from severe flushing or blushing. Unfortunately, until now, no effective treatment has existed to help reduce or stop the blushing. Emotional stress, some medications, and alcohol can also play a part in causing this problem. People who desire a more youthful appearance and do not want to consider a more invasive procedure like laser skin resurfacing with its persistent redness and "downtime" are also good candidates for this new procedure. Are there any contraindications for PhotoFacial®? Yes, people who are currently sun tanned or who plan to suntan up to one month after a procedure should not undergo treatment. You should refrain from using artificial tanners during this same time period. People taking Accutane should wait for at least 3 months after their last dose before starting treatments. Pregnancy, connective tissue disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosis, and those with autoimmune disorders should not undergo treatments. Photosensitive medications such as antibiotics, birth control pills, anti-hypertensive medications, and sulfa drugs are not contraindications. People who use Retin A/Renova or tetracycline should discontinue them 3 days before the procedure. Aspirin should be discontinued at least one week before each treatment. What are the advantages of PhotoFacial® over other procedures? Chemical peels, microdermabrassion, and even laser skin resurfacing are ineffective in reducing redness, dilated capillaries, and blushing. Before PhotoFacial® there was no effective treatment for this difficult problem. It is also helpful in areas of generalized skin redness, where the tiniest of vessels are packed so tightly together making it impossible to see them individually. In contrast, to aid in the stimulation of collagen and elastin, microdermabrasion and chemical peels may be used in conjunction with PhotoFacial® to enhance the results. After a series of PhotoFacials®, many patients are delighted with their freshened "new look" that can compliment the results of BOTOX® Cosmetic or collagen injections. The great advantage of this procedure is the lack of down time and pain associated with more invasive procedures. It is this aspect that is appreciated most by our active, busy patients. The treatment takes only about 30 minutes and you can usually return to work either the same day or the following day. If I do not have many broken blood vessels but instead have darkened areas from sun damage and some shallow acne scarring and large pores, can I be helped? Yes, the settings on the machine are precisely adjusted each time that you come in to individualize your treatments. These settings are changed with every visit to concentrate on either pigmentation problems, reddened faces with dilated blood vessels, or mild scarring and fine wrinkles, (depending on your specific problem). However, the deeper "ice pick" acne scars cannot be helped with this technique. It is the ability to modify the parameters of intensity, duration and depth of the penetration of the pulsed light therapy that makes this treatment so unique and effective for each individual problem. My problem is the smoker's lines around my lips. Would I benefit from PhotoFacial®? Yes, this would require an adjustment of the pulsed light settings to promote an increased production of collagen and elastin to diminish these fine lines. In addition, many people with this problem can benefit from the concomitant use of microdermabrasion during the same visit, which will allow the PhotoFacial® treatments to penetrate better and make them more effective. I have dark lines under my eyes. Can PhotoFacial® help me? Yes, this condition requires that the initial settings be adjusted to concentrate on the layer of the skin where melanin is produced which causes the darkened pigmentation. As the treatments progress, the settings are gradually readjusted to reach and cover the entire layer of pigment producing cells. Similarly, PhotoFacials® are effective in eliminating the V-neck appearance of photo damage and hyperpigmentation on the upper chest and neck that results from a lifetime of excessive sun exposure to this area. Will the PhotoFacials® treat "frown lines", sagging skin, puffy eyes, raised skin lesions (lumps and bumps) or sebborheic keratoses. No, these conditions are treated with other modalities including BOTOX® Cosmetic, face-lifts, plastic surgery or blepharoplasty. PhotoFacials® can remove actinic keratoses, a precancerous condition, and can remove acquired freckling. Genetic freckles usually return after treatment. Are PhotoFacial® treatments safe? Yes, this therapy has been studied for many years prior to intense pulsed light becoming FDA approved. PhotoFacials® were first developed in California and have been widely acclaimed across the United States. This innovative technology has finally arrived in Pittsburgh and is now available at the Happel Laser and Vein Centre. How do the treatments work? On the average, five procedures, spaced three weeks apart, are required for adequate treatment; some patients may require more or less depending on the severity of their individual problem. A cold gel is first applied to the skin, which aids in transmitting the light therapy and also soothes and protects the skin. Goggle-type eye protection is used for comfort and a sense of security. Men will be asked to shave the day of their treatment. The pulse of light feels like the snap of a rubber band on the skin. Patients with a very low pain threshold or sensitive skin can request a topical anesthetic cream, which is applied 30 minutes prior to the treatment; it is effective in eliminating most discomfort. Most treatments take about 30 minutes. The resulting red glow usually resolves in 2-24 hours. Bruising occurs less than 5% of the time. Make-up may be applied immediately at the end of the session. Is there any special before or after skin care regimen that I need to follow? We recommend a gentle skin cleansing and hydrating regimen for 2 to 3 days before and after the treatments to enhance their effectiveness and to decrease any irritation that might occur otherwise. Deliberate sun exposure should be avoided. Sun protection including hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are important before and after the treatments to prevent hyperpigmentation. This recommendation should be followed throughout the series of treatment sessions. Following the series of PhotoFacial® treatments, patients report a high degree of personal satisfaction, especially in being able to "wear less or no make-up" to cover their problem. Although the skin care is very simple around the time of the treatments, complete written pre and post treatment instructions will be given to you. What can I expect in terms of results from this treatment? Clinical experience has shown dramatic improvement, on an average of up to 90%, in skin color, tone and texture with no "down time". Few things are as dramatic as eliminating a red face that a patient has suffered from for years. Because the cumulative effects of lifestyle choices are variable, different patients will experience different degrees of durability of their overall response to the treatments. Periodic touch-ups can be done safely and effectively and their price is discounted when the recommended series of five treatments is purchased initially. (The five treatment sessions do not have to be repeated later as touch ups.) We will also educate you how to care for your skin after the completion of the sessions to decrease the likelihood of future treatments. Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Hair Removal
How does laser hair removal work? The laser emits a highly concentrated beam of light energy, which is absorbed by the pigment, melanin, in the hair. The laser pulses for just a fraction of a second. During this very brief period of time, the hair follicles heat up but the surrounding skin is spared. The energy disables the hair follicles and causes them to fall out. Are all lasers alike? No! Some offices still offer a laser-like device called intense pulsed light (the trade name is Epilight) which is somewhat similar to a laser. For anything other than a small area like the lip, the Epilight is very slow; patients who have had it done report that it is much more uncomfortable and even painful as compared to our new state-of the-art Alexandrite laser. Not only is it inconvenient, but also the technology is truly outdated when compared to actual lasers used for the purpose of hair removal. For this reason, we no longer use our obsolete intense pulsed light machine for hair removal. Remember, always ask what type of machine will be used for your treatment. Is the laser safe for hair removal? Properly trained medical professionals have excellent safety records performing laser hair removal. Common sense will tell you that nonmedical personnel such as aestheticians, cosmetologists, or beauticians should not be performing these medical procedures. When inquiring about any type of medical procedure, it is always wise to carefully examine the qualifications, training and background of the person who will actually do your procedure. Be careful because some unscrupulous laser companies, medical offices, as well as, insurance companies are compromising your safety for the sake of profits. Is it permanent? Lasers provide permanent hair reduction. Occasional touch-ups are usually required but this is readily acceptable to most patients when plucking, waxing, and shaving, and electrolysis are the only alternatives. What are the limitations of this technology? Lasers cannot remove gray, blond or red hair. The laser requires a dark target (hair) contrasted against a light background (skin) to be most effective. That is the reason that you cannot be tanned at the time of the procedure. How long do the treatments take? It depends on the individual area that is treated. The eyebrows or lips take only a few minutes. The entire back or both legs can take up to 45 minutes. How many treatments are required? To answer this question, the biology of hair growth must be understood. Hair grows in cycles. At one period of time, some hair follicles are actively growing while other nearby follicles are resting. The laser treats only those hairs that are actively growing. Therefore, multiple laser sessions are necessary about one month apart to allow those resting follicles to become active. On the average, between three to five sessions are usually required. Is there any special care that is needed before the treatments? We recommend that you not pluck, wax, or use depilatories for about a month before the treatment. There must be short stubble apparent at the time of the laser treatment for optimum results. Men should shave their backs about 3 days before the treatment, if possible. You must not suntan for one month before and after each procedure. Does it hurt? The laser emits light energy, which feels like the snap of a rubber band. There is also a feeling of warmth in the areas where the hair is most dense. The treatments are well tolerated. Patients do not require any type of anesthetic cream, pain medication, or sedation in our hands. What happens after the procedure? The skin is slightly red for a couple of hours much like a mild sunburn, but this resolves quickly. Rarely, there may be a little swelling around the hair follicle but this also goes away rapidly. The hair in the area will begin falling out in about two weeks. You may return to normal activities immediately without interfering with your daily regimen. How much does it cost? The costs vary according to the extent of the area involved, the location of the hair, and the number of laser pulses that are required. The consultation for laser hair removal is free and a free test patch is recommended to let you know what the laser feels like. This test patch also allows us to determine the best laser settings for your skin type. Fees for laser hair removal are substantially less than fees for electrolysis when you compare the total cost of the whole course of both treatments. | Home
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