Facial spider veins can occur for a number of reasons – as a natural part of ageing or as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, medications and sun damage. They are common among men as well as women. over the years, I’ve listened to women who insist on wearing heavy foundation and lashings of green concealer to cover their spider veins. As for the men, they seem to wear theirs as a badge, showing they’ve lived a hard, rugged Kiwi lifestyle – but I’m sure, secretly, they wish the veins weren’t there.
Well, the times they are a changin’ and, with the use of lasers, a straightforward and highly effective cosmetic procedure to remove these veins is now available. It didn’t take long to find a volunteer to trial this procedure. After a quick call-out, we had our man – yes, man.
You see, while I wanted to test the procedure, it was also an opportunity to see how a man would react to visiting a “medi spa”, as they have come to be known. These days, cosmetic treatments are all about the results and less about the incense burning, girly pamper sessions.
So, after an initial consultation, our man’s treatment was booked.
Entering the reception area of the Caci Clinic in Newmarket, Auckland, our volunteer felt totally comfortable. “It’s kind of like a nice doctor’s surgery – minus the sick people,” he said.
once in the treatment room, he lay back in the chair, similar to a dentist’s, and popped on a pair of goggles to protect his eyes. From here the fun began. “How badly does it hurt?” I asked, knowing what men are like with pain. I’m told by the laser specialist the pain feels like “plucking hairs” and some areas of the face are more sensitive than others.
In between zaps, the nurse applies ice to soothe the area. The CB-Diode laser used in the procedure targets only the oxyhaemo-globin in the blood vessel, eliminating the risk of damage to the surrounding tissue.
The treatment took around an hour and was so successful, our volunteer shouldn’t need a second treatment. oost people need between one and four treatments, depending on the severity of the case.
It’s fine to return home or to work after the procedure. However, the face can be a bit red and swollen for 24 to 48 hours and there may be a slightly noticeable “grazed” appearance to the skin that lasts for one to three weeks. Some people can experience blistering.
one week on, as our volunteer’s grazing subsides and fabulous vein-free skin emerges, he gave this treatment a solid nine out of 10 for great results, with a dramatic improvement to his appearance and only minimal discomfort.
The cost is determined at the time of consultation but it’s about $300 per treatment and our volunteer was done in one session. This treatment was performed at the Caci Clinic in Newmarket Auckland. (09) 524 2784 or visit www.caci.co.nz
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Native ad body.
