Would you like to restore your smile by eliminating that blue spot on your lip? Venous lakes are a type of venous malformation that forms a blue spot, most typically on the lower lip. It is a made up of dialated abnormal veins, usually appearing as soft, compressible, dark blue spot in the lower lip. No one knows what causes venous lakes to form but sun and UV damage are thought to play a role. They are most often seen in people older than 50 and are more common in men than in women. However, I have treated patients on my practice that are in their late 20s. They are usually asymptomatic but sometimes they can bleed after injury.
In the past, the only treatments was surgical excision. More recently, there have been other treatments such as cryotherapy, infrared coagulation and laser therapy. Laser is a great option to treat venous lakes of the lip. Most patients need only one treatment.
After a history and exam, the area is numbed using a topical anesthetic. Protective eye covering is provided and the lesion is then exposed to laser lite using the Nd:YAG laser. Different types are lasers may be used, but the Nd:YAG works extremely well for this purpose. This is the same type of laser used to treat leg and facial veins.
Immediately following the laser treatment, patients developed slight swelling of the treated area that lasts a couple of days. Minimal pain is present. None of the patients that I have treated experienced any bleeding. The venous lake will turn to a darker color or a light gray initially. Over 4-6 weeks, the lake will slowly disappear.
Laser treatment has been shown to be effective for the treatment of venous lakes in a number of studies. One study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that laser treatment was effective in the majority of patients with venous lakes. The study involved 81 patients with venous lakes who were treated with either a pulsed dye laser or a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The results showed that 81% of the patients experienced complete resolution of their venous lake after treatment.
Another study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment found that laser treatment was effective in the treatment of venous lakes in 81% of patients. The study involved 38 patients with venous lakes who were treated with a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The results showed that 81% of the patients experienced complete resolution of their venous lake after treatment.
A review of the literature published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology also found that laser treatment is effective for the treatment of venous lakes. The review included data from several studies, and found that laser treatment resulted in complete resolution of venous lakes in 74-100% of patients.
Overall, the evidence suggests that laser treatment is an effective option for the treatment of venous lakes. It is important to speak with a healthcare professional to determine the best treatment option for your specific case.
Dr. Nackman has been treating venous lakes for years with 100% success.
Call today to schedule a no cost consultation and treatment;
973-778-2222
