The Vein Institute of Toronto Approach to Surface Laser for Legs

We offer you a free personal consultation with Dr. Sanjoy Kundu, medical director of The Vein Institute of Toronto. Based on a comprehensive history and physical examination that focuses on the possible causes of vein disorders, along with a detailed venous history, Dr. Kundu determines the most important factors of your condition and circumstances.

Once the consultation is completed, Dr. Kundu produces a personalized treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and goals. One copy of your treatment plan is for you, and a second copy is kept on your chart throughout your treatment period to ensure that your goals are respected and fulfilled.

We believe in meticulous attention to detail, including sterility and hygiene to ensure your safety and that you receive the highest quality of care. The method that we use to treat leg spider veins is referred to as "double injury". After treating the spider veins with the laser, we inject sclerosing fluid into the feeder vein.

To view beneath the surface of the skin, we use the Syris 300. To treat the surface veins, we use the D940 SkinPulse S laser. During treatment, we use the Zimmer Cryo Cool 6 air cooler on the skin in the area being treated, eliminating pain and damage. To perform the sclerotherapy that follows the laser treatment, we use the Veinlite T with Side-Transillumination, a patented method of rendering the area being treated with unprecedented clarity and uniform illumination.

What can you expect?

During your consultation, we will be happy to tell you more about your treatment, possible side effects, and what results you can expect. Surface veins of the leg often require three to five treatments (at 4- to 6-week intervals) to thoroughly and effectively remove all spider veins.

To prepare for your treatment

• For 2 weeks before to your treatment, avoid sun and tanning booths.
• For 10 day before or after sclerotherapy, do not take tetracycline or Minocin.
• For 3 days before your treatment, avoid aspirin and blood thinners.
• For 1 day before your treatment, do not shave your legs.
• For 1 day before your treatment, apply no lotion or cream to your legs.
• Cut your toe nails short the day of or the day before your treatment.
• Bring short pants with you on the day of your treatment to wear during your treatment.
• Bring full-length slacks to wear out of the office after your treatment.
• An hour before your treatment, eat a snack.

Our D940 Flexipulse laser

After your treatment

• Resume your normal activities (with the exception of exercise).
• Resume aerobic exercise tomorrow.
• For 2 weeks after treatment, avoid weight lifting, resistance training, push-ups, and sit-ups.
• We recommend walking for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
• For 72 hours after your treatment, wear the 20-30 or 30-40 mm Hg compression stockings (available at our clinic). After the first 72 hours, for 2 more days, wear compression stockings during the day, following a brief morning shower (approximately 5 minutes). Remove the stockings to sleep at night. This makes a total of 5 days after your procedure wearing the compression stockings.
• For 7 days after your treatment, avoid saunas, baths, and hot tubs. Have a fast shower in the morning.
• The skin around the treated area may become slightly red and may swell slightly. Other normal after-effects are tenderness and lumps. Bruising and pigmentation (the veins that were treated may become darker) may also occur after treatment:
  • To reduce swelling, apply ice wrapped in a cloth.
  • Bruising/discolouration at the site of sclerotherapy may last from 2 weeks to a number of months in some patients.
  • To prevent persistent bruising/discolouration: From the day of the treatment, for 11 days, take 5 pellets of Arnica™ 3 times per day and one 500-mg Bromelain tablet twice per day; drink at least 2 litres of water per day to promote healing, reduce bruising, and prevent discolouration.
• To prevent persistent discolouration and poor healing, for 6 weeks (or until bruising and discolouration have resolved), avoid tanning beds and direct exposure to sun. In the event of exposure to sun, apply Elta Daily (SPF 40, UVA/UVB protection) to sites of treatment or bruising for at least 8 weeks following treatment (or until bruising and pigmentation resolve).
• For 2 weeks after treatment, avoid baths, hot tubs, Jacuzzi, and sauna.
• For 10 day before or after sclerotherapy, do not take tetracycline or Minocin.
• You will not notice immediate improvement. Expect gradual improvement over 2 weeks and possibly up to 12 weeks. In rare cases, improvement can take longer than 12 weeks. There may be only a partial response after the first one or two treatments. The spider veins may initially turn a darker red or look worse after treatment. This is part of the normal healing response. It may take up to three treatments for a specific area to show an adequate response.