Everything to know about laser red vein removal

Beauty Editor Holly O’Neill tried laser treatment for red vein removal. Here’s how she got on

After years of overusing concealer and going broke with redness-reducing products, I visited The Wicklow Street Clinic for the number one treatment I’ve always wanted to try – red vein, high colour and rosacea removal. Over two sessions, I had a bespoke treatment plan using IPL and laser with The Wicklow Street Clinic’s patented Brr-eez cooling system that makes the treatment comfortable and helps skin recover faster.

I was a little nervous about the pain level, but it was grand – 1 out of 5. It’s like flicking a hair tie on your wrist, with the pain getting sharper the closer it got to my reddest area; the nose. There’s no downtime but stay away from exfoliation (I miss you, Pestle & Mortar Exfoliate) for two weeks and SPF is compulsory. The results were truly life-changing (redness sufferers know) and visible after one session.

Here, Clinic Manager at The Wicklow Street Clinic answered everything to know about red veins and how to remove them.

What causes red veins?

This list could go on forever – anything from sun damage, alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine, medication, harsh skincare, even something as simple as blowing your nose can cause them.

How does the laser work in the skin to remove red veins?

Laser targets specific visible red veins or thread veins on the skin. Polaris Class 4 medical N.D.yag laser is used to target and cauterise the vessel so that it shrinks back from the surface to fade over time. Excellent results can be achieved after only a few treatments if not straight away.

Is red vein laser suitable for everyone?

In a nutshell, yes! The only reason someone may not be suitable could be something to do with medication or medical history.

How many sessions does it take to remove red veins?

We would recommend a course of 3 treatments to achieve the best possible results done with 4-week intervals between sessions.

How long will the results last?

This is a hard one as everyone is so different. Some people would need one top up treatment once a year. If someone suffers with rosacea or has sun damage they may need more frequent treatments but again this is something that we can give a guideline to when the consultation is carried out

How long is a session?

Your initial consultation is 30 minutes and treatment time is only 15 to 30 mins depending on what your therapist has recommended.

Red vein laser removal is available at The Wicklow Street Clinic, Dublin 2, thewicklowstreetclinic.ie, 01 677 7962.

This article originally appeared in the May issue of IMAGE Magazine.