Vascular Lesions
Laser treatments are now a routine procedure for the removal of many types of vascular lesions. The targeted chromophore for vascular lesions is intravascular oxyhemoglobin, which means that thermal damage is largely restricted to cutaneous blood vessels. The energy from the laser is absorbed by the blood inside the vein, converted into heat, and the vein walls are subsequently destroyed. In comparison with other wavelengths, which mainly affect the surface layers of a lesion, Nd:YAG light also targets the underlying vascular feeding system, which is important for ensuring the long-term efficacy of the treatment. This process is perfectly safe, as other healthy veins supply blood to the treated area and the body’s immune system clears away dead tissue, just like with a bruise.