Ra. Massey et Be. Katz, Successful treatment of spider leg veins with a high-energy, long-pulse, frequency-doubled Neodymium : YAG laser (HELP-G), DERM SURG, 25(9), 1999, pp. 677-680
BACKGROUND. While sclerotherapy has been the standard treatment for spider
leg veins for many years, recent advances have allowed lasers to be conside
red as a treatment option.
OBJECTIVE. TO study the efficacy of a frequency-doubled Nd: YAG laser at 53
2 mm with a 50 ms pulse width and chill tip device in the treatment of spid
er leg veins.
METHODS. Forty-six patients with spider leg veins with a diameter of less t
han 1 mm or 1-2 mm were treated with a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser at 53
2 nm with a pulse width of 50 ms (VersaPulse HELP-G laser) while using a wa
ter-cooled chill tip device.
RESULTS. Of patients with veins less than 1 mm in diameter, 60% had greater
than 50% clearing after one treatment and 80% had greater than 50% clearin
g after two treatments. Of patients with veins 1-2 mm in diameter, 39% achi
eved greater than 50% clearing after one treatment and 67% had greater than
50% clearing after two sessions.
CONCLUSION. Our results suggest that the frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser wit
h a pulse width of 50 ms and chill tip device offers an excellent alternati
ve to sclerotherapy in the treatment of small spider leg veins.