Vascular Lasers

Vascular lasers target blood vessels beneath the skin's surface. The laser emits a specific wavelength of light that is absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood. This absorption causes the blood vessels to heat up and collapse, reducing redness and visible blood vessels.

• Reducing redness: Vascular lasers can significantly reduce facial redness and flushing.
• Minimising visible dilated vessels: Vascular lasers effectively treat telangiectasia (small, visible blood vessels).
• Improving skin texture: Vascul lasers effectively bulk heat the skin, stimulate collagen production, and improve skin texture and tone.  
• Clinical experience suggests that vascular lasers help reduce inflammatory rosacea flare ups by reducing the vasculature in the skin and improving skin collagen.  

• Erythrotelangeictatic rosacea: Those with this type of rosacea tend to have fixed centrofacial redness and dilated capillaries. Laser treatment is essential in managing this type of rosacea.
• Papulopustular rosacea: Prescription medications treat inflammatory rosacea while vascular lasers treat the background capillaries and vessel dilatations. Treating inflammatory rosacea with vascular laser treatments alone, without medication, is not recommended, as this can worsen rosacea.
• Flushing rosacea: Vascular laser treats the fixed dilated capillaries, reduces the blood flow to the skin surface and can reduce flushing to a certain degree. Flushing is complex and is often related to neuromuscular factors; therefore, neurovascular modulators can be helpful. We recommend consulting with a doctor specialising in rosacea management

It depends on the type of rosacea you have. Many patients have a few different types of rosacea that require combination treatment.  Vascular laser can be used alone for those with erythrotelangiectatic rosacea.

• Standard setting
• Purpura setting
• Gentle setting

During your consultation, we will discuss the anticipated recovery with you, depending on your treatment plan.

• Standard laser setting: Expect 1-3 days of redness and swelling after your treatment, especially after your vascular laser treatment.
• Gentle laser setting: expect mild redness and a sense of plumpness to the skin only.  NO downtime.
• More aggressive setting: expect some bruising, 2-5 days of swelling after your treatment.  We only use this setting if your condition is more challenging to treat.  We will give you lots of warnings beforehand.

Expect 1-3 days of redness and swelling after your treatment, especially after your first treatment.

If you are prone to cold sores, please take anti-cold sore medication (over the counter) on the day of the treatment.

When you attend, you will have photographs taken first. You will wear protective goggles before your treatment. A cool gel is applied to your skin, and then you will sense the flashes of the laser (532nm wavelength) and feel a zapping sensation on the skin. Your skin is cooled with the laser tip, which is usually around 5 degrees. Sunscreen is applied to your skin before you leave the clinic.

• Redness/swelling is expected, generally lasting for 1-3 days
• Bruising - can be transient
• Pigmentation changes, including lighter or darker pigment (this is uncommon and generally temporary, but may be permanent)
• Crusting, burns, infection and scarring are rare
• Undesirable hair reduction is usually temporary.
• Eye exposure - protective eye shields are a must
• Discomfort

For those prone to swelling, a prescription anti-inflammatory tablet can be prescribed to help with swelling. Use only gentle skincare and sunscreen during recovery. Only restart your prescription cream and routine skincare once swelling and sensitivity settle. Sleep with a few pillows to help to reduce swelling. Avoid direct heat (e.g. hot showers, saunas) or irritation to the treatment area (e.g. waxing). Stay away from sun exposure.