New technique relieves unsightly hand veins

The expression "turning back the hands of time" may have literal meaning as more people begin to see their hands as a telltale sign of aging. Some women go to extremes to hide their hands because of loose, sun-damaged skin, age spots, or prominent veins. Laser ablation--a new and relatively quick procedure--can ease their minds and erase unwanted hand veins, according to a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Arlington Heights, Ill.

"As people age, they often lose fat tissue in their hands as well as skin elasticity, making the veins more prominent and distinguishable. Although many women ate annoyed by the veins in their hands, some of my patients are so concerned they will actually place their hands on the table, palms up, so they don't show," relates Roxanne Guy, ASPS vice president and co-author of the study. "Our aim with this new technique was to find a safe and quick procedure to eliminate prominent hand veins for our patients without having to undergo serious surgery."

Laser ablation uses a laser placed on the tip of a wire, which surgeons thread into the vein. As the wire is pulled out slowly, the energy from the laser heats up the vein and blood cells, damaging the inner lining of the vessel wall. Once the wire is removed, a tight dressing is put on the hand, clamping down the tissue and collapsing the vein. Over the next couple of weeks, the vein dies and gives way, leaving a smooth hand. During the recovery period, patients are able and encouraged to use their hands. In addition, they are required to wear a compression garment to decrease the swelling and help the veins lay flat.

"Previously, if patients wanted to eliminate unsightly hand veins, their only options were to have the veins completely removed, which causes scars, or sclerotherapy, which leaves hands feeling tender and may cause tiny capillaries to appear through the skin," points out Asad Shamma, a vascular surgeon who practices in Beirut, Lebanon, and co-author of the study. "With laser ablation, women can raise their hands with confidence without experiencing the negative side effects associated with other procedures."

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