Vascular Treatment – Vbeam

Vbeam: The Most Advanced Pulsed Dye Laser Technology

The Vbeam is a pulsed dye laser, which means that the laser energy is delivered in pulses and a dye is used to generate laser beams of different colors. Since the Vbeam is used to treat dilated blood vessels, as in rosacea, it is often called a vascular laser. The target of the vascular laser is hemoglobin, the red protein in blood cells in the blood vessels. Skin cells that surround the dilated blood vessels are not damaged.

How do I know if I need Vbeam?

If you have too much redness due to dilated blood vessels in your nose, cheeks, chin, or other parts of your face, spider veins on the legs or ankles you may benefit from Vbeam treatment.

This includes, but is not limited to, the redness of rosacea. The Vbeam is also good for removing angiomas, small red clumps of blood vessels. Red birthmarks, called port wine stains, can be treated with the Vbeam, as can stubborn warts, red new scars, and bruises on the face and body.

Does it hurt?

Vbeam is not painful enough to require anesthesia. The short pulses feel like cold and hot snaps on the skin. A stream of cold air directed at the treated area helps to minimize discomfort.

How does Vbeam work?

The Vbeam is a pulsed dye laser, which means that the laser energy is delivered in pulses and a dye is used to generate laser beams of different colors. Since the VBeam is used to treat dilated blood vessels, as in rosacea, it is often called a vascular laser. The target of the vascular laser is hemoglobin, the red protein in blood cells in the blood vessels. Skin cells that surround the dilated blood vessels are not damaged.

What benefits can I expect?

In rosacea, you can anticipate 50% to 75% improvement after 3 to 5 treatments. Since rosacea is a chronic condition we recommend 1 to 2 maintenance treatments per year. Port wine stains require more than 5 treatments.

Can this be combined with other treatments?

Yes. Vbeam treatment can be combined with most other treatments. If you combine botulinum toxin or injectable fillers with the Vbeam, the laser treatment is done first.

How will I look and feel during and after the treatment?

The treated area will look more red and swollen for a few hours or, in unusual cases, up to several days. Bruising may occur when very large blood vessels, port wine stains, warts, or scars are being treated.

Contraindications:

The Vbeam laser is not appropriate for pregnant women or patients who have taken Accutane for the past six months. Persons with a history of cold sores or herpes simplex virus should not have this procedure until they are pre-treated for these conditions (we can provide preventative treatment at our practice).

The Vbeam Laser is a flashlamp-excited pulsed dye laser indicated for dermatological applications. It delviers pulsed laser energy at a wavelength of 595nm that passes through the dermis and epidermis skin layers and is absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin in the blood vessels rather than by the surrounding tissue.