Summer Ready: How to Regain Your Confidence and Embrace Shorts Season
Summer is nearly here, bringing warmer weather and the perfect excuse to dust off your favourite shorts, dresses, and skirts. However, for many people, the arrival of sunshine brings a familiar sense of dread.
If you find yourself sweltering in trousers or maxi skirts just to hide your legs, you are far from alone. Leg veins are incredibly common, but they can take a significant toll on your body confidence.
Here is a look at why these veins appear, and more importantly, how our advanced clinic treatments using the Alma Harmony ClearVas can help you reclaim your summer wardrobe.
Understanding the Culprits: From Telangiectasia to Varicose Veins
Not all leg veins are the same. Understanding the specific type of vein you are dealing with is the first step towards finding the right targeted solution.
Spider Veins (Telangiectasia): These are the tiny, thin veins that sit closest to the surface of the skin. They often look like fine spider webs or tree branches and can appear red, purple, or blue. While usually harmless, they are highly visible.
Venectasias: Often closely linked to spider veins, these are small, permanently dilated superficial blood vessels. They can form distinct clusters on the skin, creating an uneven or mottled patch of colour on the legs.
Reticular Veins: Slightly larger and deeper than spider veins, these blue or green veins measure around 1 to 3 mm in diameter. They sit just beneath the skin’s surface and do not bulge. They are often referred to as "feeder veins" because they feed blood directly into surface spider veins.
Varicose Veins: These are much larger, deeper veins that have become swollen and twisted due to faulty valves. They noticeably bulge above the skin's surface and can cause physical discomfort, such as a heavy, aching, or throbbing sensation in the legs.
Why Do They Form?
Like many concerns, leg veins are largely down to a combination of biology and lifestyle. The main causes include:
Genetics: If your parents or grandparents struggled with their veins, you are much more likely to develop them too.
· Age: As we get older, our veins naturally lose some of their elasticity.
Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause can weaken vein walls.
Prolonged Standing or Sitting: Careers that keep you on your feet (or stuck at a desk) for hours put extra pressure on your lower leg veins.
Next-Generation Solutions: Introducing the Alma Harmony ClearVas
You do not have to spend another summer hiding away. At DG Medical Aesthetics, we use the industry-leading Alma Harmony laser platform to target and eliminate unwanted superficial leg veins safely, precisely, and effectively.
By utilising different specialised wavelengths, we can customise your treatment to match the exact depth, size, and type of your veins.
How the 1064 nm Wavelength Works
The ClearVas handpiece operates at a wavelength of 1064 nm. In the world of laser physics, this specific wavelength is a "sweet spot" for treating leg veins.
Selective Absorption: The energy from the laser is primarily absorbed by haemoglobin, which is the red pigment in your blood.
Heat Conversion: As the haemoglobin absorbs the light, it converts that energy into heat.
Coagulation: This heat causes the blood inside the vessel to coagulate and the vein walls to collapse.
Natural Removal: Once the vein is closed off, it is no longer functional. Over the following weeks, your body’s lymphatic system naturally breaks down the remaining tissue and reabsorbs it, making the vein fade from view.
Deep and Feeder Veins: The ClearVas Handpiece (Long-Pulse 1064 nm Nd:YAG)
For deeper, thicker, or more stubborn blue and purple leg veins, we use the ClearVas handpiece. This system utilises a long-pulse 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, which is the gold standard for vascular treatments.
Crucially, the ClearVas 1064 nm laser is suitable and safe for all skin tones, from very fair to very dark.
How it works: The 1064 nm wavelength is uniquely designed to bypass the melanin (pigment) in the surface of the skin, making it exceptionally safe for darker skin types that might otherwise be at risk with traditional lasers. Instead, it precisely targets the haemoglobin (the red pigment) inside the blood vessel. The laser energy converts into heat, causing the blood to coagulate and the vessel walls to collapse. Over the following weeks, the sealed vein is naturally broken down and absorbed by your body.
An Important Note on Varicose Veins: It is essential to know that while the ClearVas 1064 nm laser is highly effective for spider veins and deeper feeder vessels, it cannot be used to treat true varicose veins. Because varicose veins are large, bulging, and involve underlying structural issues with the vein valves, they require a different medical approach. If you have true varicose veins, you should seek advice from a vascular surgeon for a formal surgical or endothermal assessment.
Superficial Spider Veins: The DYE-VL (500 to 600 nm)
If your main concern is fine, bright red, or purple thread veins right at the surface of the skin, the DYE-VL handpiece is the perfect tool.
How it works: This technology delivers a precise, narrow band of light energy between 500 and 600 nm. This specific range is highly absorbed by superficial vascular lesions. It quickly and gently heats these delicate surface vessels, causing them to fade away efficiently without damaging the surrounding skin tissue.
Simple Tips to Boost Leg Health Today
While clinical laser treatments are the only way to make existing veins disappear, you can support your circulation and manage symptoms with a few daily habits:
Keep Moving: Regular walking or swimming pumps blood back up to your heart and reduces pooling.
Elevate Your Feet: At the end of a hot day, prop your legs up on some pillows to give your veins a rest.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps improve overall circulation.
What to Expect During Your Treatment
One of the most frequent questions we hear is: "How many sessions will I need?"
It is important to understand that there is no "one size fits all" answer. Because every body is unique, the treatment plan must be personalised to your specific needs. The number of sessions required typically varies based on the following factors:
Factor
Impact on Treatment
Vein Size
Larger reticular veins may require more energy or more passes than fine spider veins.
Vein Depth
Deeper vessels might need a series of treatments to collapse fully.
Body’s Healing Rate
Some individuals clear the treated "waste" tissue faster than others.
Area Density
A single isolated vein is easier to clear than a dense "map" of vessels.
On average, most patients see significant results within one to three sessions, spaced several weeks apart. During your initial consultation, we will assess your legs and provide a realistic timeline for your specific goals.
Ready to Love Your Legs Again?
Feeling comfortable in your own skin is essential for enjoying everything the sunny season has to offer. With our advanced Alma Harmony ClearVas laser technology, you do not have to accept spider veins as a permanent fixture. We can target the problem at the source without the need for invasive surgery or needles.
If you are ready to say goodbye to spider veins and hello to smoother-looking legs, get in touch with our team today to book your consultation
Book a consultation with our expert team today, and let us create a tailored treatment plan so you can feel more confident and less self-conscious about baring your legs this summer.
