Vein Removal
World leading dual laser technology to safely and effectively remove visible veins
Typically gone in 1 to 3 sessions
Prices from £100 per session
Medically trained operator
Book a free and frank consultation
We routinely achieve great results on facial thread veins. Response of veins on legs has been very poor to date and as a result we no longer recommend laser treatment in this area. It is our business model to only offer treatments with a high level of safety and efficacy. We recommend sclerotherapy as an alternative treatment modality
The premium choice for the treatment of facial telangiectasia, thread vein and spider veins in the North of Scotland.
We use the world leading Quanta Duetto MT laser system. This uses two pulses of amplified light from 2 separate lasers in quick succession to first oxidise the blood in the problem vessel, and then destroy the vessel itself while sealing it off safely
Our Zimmer cryotherapy machine blows very cold air onto the area before and during treatment to minimise discomfort
Folk in the Highlands are prone to visible thread veins especially on the nose and cheek. An outdoor lifestyle, sun exposure, and windburn conspire to make these fairly common.
We also treat cherry angioma, spider naevus and other vascular lesions
How long will my vein removal take and how much will it cost?
Problem thread veins and spider veins normally respond in 1 to 3 treatments. Please see Prices for a guide to costs.
Why is the Highland Laser Clinic Technology better than other systems?
Our laser system uses two lasers fired in quick succession. The Alexandrite laser converts haemoglobin within the problem vessel into an oxidised form known as methemoglobin. Milliseconds later the Nd:YAG laser fires. This has a very strong affinity for methemoglobin so heat energy from the laser is absorbed rapidly destroying and sealing the vessel.
Some clinics will attempt to remove veins using Q-Switch tattoo removal lasers or IPL. Some reduction may be seen in the short term from these approaches but relief is temporary and risks of skin damage are high.
Will I get full removal?
Possibly. Vessels of up to 2mm can be treated very effectively with this technology. We get great results on noses and chins. Cheeks can be more resistant but significant improvement is likely.
Due to poor results, we no longer offer vein removal on legs
Will my thread veins come back again?
Possibly. New capillaries can grow in place of removed vessels. Risk of reoccurrence is increased with sun exposure, wind burn, use of topical steroid creams, or if you engage in frequent strenuous exercise. We believe drinking alcohol as a risk factor for threadvein is over stated.
Can you remove my varicose veins?
Unfortunately not. Only vessels up to 2mm in diameter can be treated. We believe that laser is the preferable mode of treatment for facial veins, and that all leg veins should be approached with sclerotherapy or surgical interventions. We no longer attempt to treat leg veins.
Does it hurt?
Yes it does hurt a bit but is over quickly. A specialist cold air blower is used to chill your skin during treatment to make it more comfortable. Your operator also presses on your skin between every couple of shots to help dissapate heat and make it feel better.
When can I wear make-up?
We recommend that you avoid wearing make-up for 24 hours after treatment at the very least. Longer is probably better. It’s VERY important not to have ANY product of ANY kind on your skin on the day of treatment. You need to be properly cleansed of all make up, preferably in the shower so all traces are removed. We will refuse treatment for safety reasons if we see product on your face. This also applies to self tanning products.
How long does it take to heal after treatment?
Recovery takes 3 days to 3 weeks generally. The treated area will be red and swollen and some slight localised bruising may be seen. Treated vessels may turn grey or black and may be visible on your face for a week or so. Once healed the treated area may be sensitive to the sun for an additional few weeks.
When we treat telangiectasia the laser typically seals the problem blood vessels as it destroys them. Occasionally, a vessel can bleed into surrounding tissues and deposit blood within the structure of your skin. This is seen as a bruise which can take a few weeks or very rarely up to 6 months to resolve. We tend to treat fairly aggressively at Highland Laser Clinic to avoid this and have never experienced this complication with any of our clients so far, but it is a known risk factor with vein removal.
It is very important to tell us about any medications you might be taking at consultation. Some conditions such as diabetes can increase your risk of bleeding and bruising significantly. Uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure is also a risk factor we definitely need to know about.
What is a laser?
Laser is light, clean sterile light amplified to a very high energy. It is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. We have a number of different lasers at our disposal to perform a number of aesthetic procedures. See Technology.
What do I do when I get there?
Detailed directions to the Highland Laser Clinic can be found on the Find Us page.
There are 2 designated parking places, one right in front on the clinic, and one up the side of Birchwood house. Please care not to obstruct access to our neighbour. Please note that our neighbour has a collie dog, who might shout at you a bit (it’s her job), but she's a sweetie really.
The clinic entrance is round to the left hand side of the house near the wooden fence.
We do not have a waiting room facility, so if you’re early or in the rare instance that we have an appointment over running, you may have to wait in your car.
If the blinds are closed in the clinic room, we are probably busy with another customer.
What happens at my consultation?
We sit down and discuss the procedure and how it all works. We talk about outcomes, side effects, risk factors and how to achieve the results you want. We aim to be completely transparent and open in these discussions and advise you to the best of or abilities, even if that is to recommend that you do not proceed with treatment with us.
Consultation is free. Once all your questions have been answered you can then choose to proceed with patch testing, or you can go away and think about it, or decide then and there that treatment is not for you. It’s up to you. There is no hard sell.
Do I have to have a Patch Test before treatment?
YES. Patch testing is part of the terms of our insurance and is compulsory before any treatment without exception. Patch testing is normally charged at £30 per site.
Can I bring someone with me?
Normally we would say yes, but in these pandemic times we are trying to minimise the number of people visiting the clinic. You can bring someone with you if you have a good reason to but please discuss this with us first. For safety reasons, children can not be in the clinic during laser treatment under any circumstances.
How do I pay for my treatment?
Highland Laser Clinic has the facility to take payment from a wide range of debit and credit cards, by using your phone, or using direct transfer to our bank using Bacs. We no longer accept American Express. You can pay as you go for each treatment individually. For some courses of treatment you can pay in advance for a block of 6 sessions for a 10% discount. We do not offer credit terms.
What do I do after treatment?
Detailed aftercare instructions are provided after your first treatment and an aftercare document is provided for reference. This is also emailed to you after treatment.
We are always available for post-treatment advice. If you have any issues we may ask you to come in for review. We never charge for any follow up appointments, only for treatment sessions.
Can I reschedule my appointment?
Yes. Our clients are really busy people and we fully respect that. We make it it easy to reschedule appointments at short notice so that if something unexpected comes up folk can change their booking. There is a personalised RESCHEDULE link on your confirmation email that is unique to your booking and will take you to an online diary to choose another time and date. If you no longer have the confirmation email for that booking you will need to contact us so that we can arrange it for you.
However, we are really busy people as well and do demand a certain degree of reliability. If you reschedule with less than 48 hours notice, it is our policy to ask for a deposit or payment up front to confirm your new booking date.
Can I cancel my appointment?
Yes. If you need to cancel your appointment because you no longer require treatment with us, or if you do not yet know the date you are able to reschedule to, you can use the personalised CANCEL link on your confirmation email that is unique to your booking. If you no longer have the confirmation email for that booking you will need to contact us so that we can arrange it for you.
If customers cancel with less than 48 hours notice, it is our policy to ask for a deposit or payment up front to confirm future bookings.
I have another question not listed here?
Please contact us with any additional questions you might have.
Pre Treatment Advice
For 4 weeks prior to treatment
• Do not expose the skin to strong sunshine, sun-beds, or fake tan for at least 4 weeks before, and between laser treatments. We can not treat you if you are tanned.
In the week prior to treatment
• No waxing, plucking or threading for at least one week before each treatment
• Avoid intense exfoliation, microdermabrasion or chemical peels
• Do not use Retinoids, AHA’s, BHA’s (products with various acids in the active ingredients) or other intensive skin treatments
In the 48 hours prior to treatment
• Do not use bleaching creams or perfumed products
• If necessary, make sure area being treated is cleanly shaved 24hours prior to treatment
On the day of treatment
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated water immediately before treatment
• Don’t be hungry, or thirsty, don't be hung-over and don’t have just worked a nightshift
• You may choose to take paracetamol an hour before treatment to help mitigate treatment associated pain if that’s a safe drug for you to use, but please do not consume aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID’s)
• Please do not have any kind of product on the area to be treated on the day of treatment, including fake tan
Post Treatment Advice
During the first Day post treatment
• Avoid strenuous activity such as gym sessions and sports following laser treatment. This is to minimise your blood pressure and prevent veins reopening
• Swelling is the primary side effect. This will increase over the first 24 hours after treatment and may become quite significant. We advise the regular use of a cold compress to the area during this time
• Treated veins may appear grey, black or purple - this is normal and will improve over the next few days
• Do not pick scratch or otherwise irritate the treated area
• If any blistering or other unusual side effect occurs, contact Highland Laser Clinic immediately to arrange aftercare. Do not burst blisters yourself
• Gently cleanse your face daily
• Avoid perfumed products e.g. soaps, creams or fragrances
• Apply Aloe Vera gel to the affected areas twice a day if tolerated
• Avoid all heat treatments including hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and hot showers
During the second day post treatment
• Swelling should start to reduce day 2
• You may wish to change from Aloe Vera to Savlon, or alternatively 50:50 Paraffin, particularly if the aloe vera is drying your skin out
For 1 week post treatment
• No swimming in chlorinated water
• Please minimise use of makeup
• Moisturise
• No shaving, waxing, plucking or threading of treated areas
• Avoid intense exfoliation, microdermabrasion or chemical peels
• Do not use Retinoids, AHA’s, BHA’s (products with various acids in the active ingredients) or other intensive skin treatments
In the 2 Weeks post treatment
• Do not use fake tan
In the 8 Weeks post treatment
• Use sun protection SPF30+
• Limit sun exposure and do not use tanning beds. We will be unable to deliver further treatments if you are too tanned