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Home | Conditions Treated | Leg Veins

Leg Veins


Leg veins are dilated vessels that range from large varicose veins to small telangiectasias (commonly referred to as spider veins). These dilated vessels can appear in the lower extremities due to flow abnormalities, causing the vessels to expand. Women are much more likely to develop leg veins than men. Common causes of leg veins include pregnancy and occupations with prolonged sitting or standing.


Superficial leg veins can be treated with sclerotherapy or with lasers. In sclerotherapy, a chemical agent is injected into the damaged vessels to harden and destroy the vessel wall.


How the Excel V Laser Can Help

Leg Veins
Leg Veins

Laser spider vein and leg vein treatment involves heating the targeted blood vessel or vessels by the laser light, damaging the vessel and eventually causing it to be absorbed by the body.


Leg veins tend to be larger and deeper than veins on the face, historically making them more difficult to treat with lasers. They also tend to have more hydrostatic pressure due to the gravity, making these vessels more difficult to eliminate. The 1064 nm laser wavelength, an available treatment mode of the Excel V laser, has demonstrated effectiveness in treating leg veins up to 4 mm in size.1


For successful laser treatment of spider veins and varicose veins on the legs, the laser must penetrate to a sufficient depth and have enough energy at this depth to coagulate the blood in the vessel. Sufficient depth of penetration is achieved by a varicose and spider vein laser using the 1064 nm wavelength along with a large spot size. Adequate fluence and pulse width is required to close down the vessel.


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For more information about the Excel V laser, please contact us online or call (888) 4-CUTERA or (415) 657-5500.


1. N. Omura, MD, J. Dover, MD, FRCPC, K. Arndt, MD & A. Kauvar, MD; Treatment of Reticular Leg Veins with a 1064 nm Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., Vol. 48, No. 1.