Venous Lake Blood Vessel Treatment

‘Venous Lake’ is a condition where patients have a broken blood vessel, normally on the lower lip, where the skin has been exposed to the sun.

The medical term for this is ‘Phlebectasis’.

The venous lake looks like a blue/black/purple coloured spot on the lip, usually between 2mm – 1cm diameter.  and is caused by a problem in the blood vessel which causes blood to pool rather than flowing away. It may be slightly raised to the touch, and is usually soft and compressible to the touch.

Venous lakes are caused by a blood vessel (vein) in the skin, which over time has become enlarged and wider (or dilated).

These are more common as patients get older and they’re nothing to worry about in medical terms, but it should definitely be checked and properly diagnosed by a doctor just in case there is something more sinister.

Venous Lake Appearance

Venous Lake Treatment

The NHS tends not to treat venous lake, as it is classed as a ‘cosmetic issue’ in that it is not medically harmful. However, many patients dislike the look of them and would like to get rid of them.

The good news is that private clinics like The London Vein Centre can offer treatment which can be quite effective.

Laser treatment for venous lake

Most venous lake can be treated with laser. While one session should make a difference, 2-3 sessions are generally advisable for full results. This option works to gradually destroy the problematic blood vessel, leaving the skin looking clear and normal. There is no anaesthetic required and no scalpel or injections.

The London Vein Treatment Centre offers a variety of options, depending on the nature of the condition being treated:

• Laser thread vein treatment using advanced Harmony XL Pro laser machine, which provides a gentle and effective treatment for spider veins on the face and smaller thread veins.
• Micro-cautery laser is also available at all of the company’s skin treatment centres

These treatments target the problem capillaries, vessels or veins in order to damage and destroy them, so that the veins shrink, shrivel up and then disappear. The blood flows through deeper, healthier vessels and veins and is not visible at the skin’s surface.

Surgical treatment for venous lake

Occasionally surgical removal is the best approach. This is a bit more invasive, but is completed very quickly and normally can be carried out in the same session as the consultation. The London Vein Centre doctors and surgeons use local anaesthetic to ensure that the treatment is painless and this option requires no further treatment sessions.

The London Vein Treatment Centre specialises in all types of thread veins on the face and body using the latest techniques for best results.

The team are highly skilled and experienced in treating vein problems. Patients can feel confident in a swift and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations.