ClearV® is Sciton’s high-power 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser technology, developed primarily for the targeted treatment of dilated blood vessels located at various depths. The laser energy is absorbed by the haemoglobin in the vein, causing the wall of the treated vein to heat up and contract; the non-functioning vein is then reabsorbed by the body’s natural processes over the following weeks.
The ClearV® non-ablative laser: the treatment seals off the blood vessel from within, without damaging the skin’s surface. There are no wounds, no scabs and no downtime. The yellow and orange lighting around the treatment head makes even the blood vessels beneath the surface visible – so not only can lesions visible to the naked eye be treated, but also the deeper-lying blood vessels that supply them.
ClearV® can be combined with BBL® or ClearSilk® treatment where necessary. In the case of rosacea, for example, both diffuse redness and isolated, visible dilated blood vessels can be treated in a targeted manner, tailored to the specific skin condition.
Most people simply get used to ruby naevi. A few bright red spots appear on the torso or arm, then their number increases year on year – and as they do not cause any pain, everything is left as it is. Yet this is one of the skin conditions that can be treated most easily and with the most dramatic results. I use the ClearV® laser exclusively for the removal of spider veins. The reason for this is the non-ablative nature of the technology: as the laser works within the blood vessel and does not damage the skin’s surface, no wound is formed, and the lesions heal without leaving a trace.
Make-up can temporarily conceal the tiny, dilated capillaries that appear on the face, but the dilated capillaries do not heal on their own. Once they have lost their elasticity, they can only be treated with a targeted procedure.
After cleansing the skin and fitting the eye protection, I target the veins one by one. The flashes are accompanied by a brief, stinging sensation, which most patients tolerate well. Treating a small area takes a few minutes; for more extensive treatment, it takes longer.
No scabs form after the treatment, so make-up can be applied immediately if necessary following a treatment on the face or nose.
In the case of metal tokens The marks turn grey and then fade away within a few weeks. The skin’s surface remains intact, and the healing leaves no trace.
In the case of varicose veins The treated blood vessel may bruise following the procedure. This minor bruising will disappear within a few days. It takes several weeks for the closed, non-functional blood vessels to be completely reabsorbed, depending on the size of the vessel.
The treated area may be temporarily slightly swollen and tender; this usually subsides within a day or two.
It is recommended that the treated area be protected from sunlight until full recovery has been achieved.
Smaller lesions (ruby naevi) usually disappear after a single treatment. Thicker blood vessels and larger, raised haemangiomas may require several treatments. Several lesions can be treated in a single session.
The treated vein or spider vein will disappear permanently. However, new veins or spider veins may develop elsewhere.
Pregnancy, active skin inflammation or infection, tanned skin or skin treated with self-tanning products, or if you are taking anticoagulants.
BBL is effective at treating the fine network of vessels close to the surface and diffuse redness over a larger area. ClearV targets larger-diameter, deeper-lying vessels and focal lesions caused by prominent vessels. The two often complement each other.
