Excel V Lasers

 

Excel V Lasers

Millions of people around the world suffer from vascular skin conditions, such as spider veins, rosacea, cherry angiomas, port wine stains, and telangiectasias. These conditions can cause unsightly discoloration and broken blood vessels. They most commonly occur on the face and legs, but can occur just about anywhere on the body. Without treatment, people affected by these conditions often experience self-consciousness and embarrassment besides other symptoms.

Until recently, the only treatment options for these conditions were sclerotherapy, electrosurgery, and surgery. These are invasive procedures associated with significant pain and risk of adverse side effects.

Now, laser treatment with Excel V offers patients a new approach to treating vascular conditions with safety and comfort.  Continue reading to learn more about this groundbreaking treatment that incorporates the latest innovations in laser technology and includes a proprietary cooling mechanism for enhanced patient comfort.

What is the Cutera Excel V™ laser system?

The Cutera Excel V is a leading-edge laser system for treating both cosmetic and medical vascular problems such as leg veins, spider veins, rosacea, and telangiectasias, as well as pigmented lesions such as sun spots and brown spots and scars.

The Excel V generates a powerful green laser beam that targets pigment and abnormal blood vessels, rendering these lesions to a more natural skin tone.

The treatment can be tailored to treat each patient's skin problems, whether superficial or deep. The laser treatment is performed with a new-age cooling technology to ensure comfort. The system is safe for all skin types and skin tones, including darker or tanned skin.

What does the Excel V laser treat?

The Excel V laser system is effective at treating more than 20 different types of pigmented and vascular skin conditions, including rosacea, spider veins, red and blue facial veins, venous lakes, leg veins, reticular veins, cherry angiomas, hemangiomas, port-wine stains, sun spots, age spots, acne scars, surgical scars, keloids, diffuse redness of skin, sun damage, freckles, fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, rough texture, and uneven tone.

How does the Excel V work?

The Excel V generates two wavelengths - a 532 nm wavelength that is effective against superficial lesions such as erythema (redness), rosacea, and spider veins, and a 1064 nm wavelength which works against deeper and darker lesions, such as leg veins, venous lakes, and other vascular malformations.

The powerful green laser beam generated by the device targets pigment and abnormal vessels.  The heat from the laser coagulates and destroys the abnormalities, thus eliminating vascular lesions and restoring normal skin color and tone. 

A key advantage of the Excel V laser is that it can be adjusted to treat smaller areas precisely. This makes it possible for providers to treat small veins or age spots in as few as 1-2 sessions, compared to other lasers that take require multiple sessions for similar results.

Is Excel V laser effective?

Excel V is highly effective against many different conditions, mainly vascular and pigmented skin lesions. The treatment is adjustable to treat a specific skin condition in a patient. The system is designed to offer various wavelengths and both short and long pulses, making it highly effective against both superficial blemishes and deeper vascular lesions.

The extensive range of spot sizes ensures that smaller treatment areas can be addressed with great precision while larger areas can be addressed quickly. The high level of personalization for a patient makes Excel V very effective at treating many skin conditions in a single session which previously required multiple sessions on other laser systems.

What to expect during the procedure?

You will first have an initial consultation with your provider to determine if Excel V treatment is appropriate. The procedure itself is non-invasive. There are no injections or surgery. No topical anesthesia is required. The physician simply moves the Excel V handpiece over the affected area. The total duration of the procedure is under 30 minutes.

Does the Excel V laser hurt?

When the pulses of laser energy are delivered, patients experience a stinging or pinching sensation. Excel V uses a proprietary cooling mechanism to minimize discomfort. There is minimal to no pain after the treatment.

How soon will you see Excel V results? How long do they last?

Most patients see some initial improvement after the first session. However, the full results take 2-6 weeks to develop. The final results might not be visible for several months. Results may vary, and for some types of lesions, improvement may be visible more immediately.

Excel V treats pigment and abnormal blood vessels by eliminating them, so the results are long-lasting. However, they are not permanent. You may need maintenance treatments every 1-3 years. Also, you can develop additional problems over time, which would require repeat treatment. You can lower your risk of recurrence of pigmented lesions by using sun protection. Your doctor can advise you about preventing further vascular problems from occurring.  

How many treatments will I need?

The number of Excel V sessions depends on various factors, including the size, thickness and color of the vascular lesion or pigmented concern. Some concerns, like superficial vascular lesions, may show full results after one treatment, while deeper ones may require a series of treatments to achieve the optimal outcome. Results may vary from person to person. Your provider's office will develop a personalized treatment plan for you after your initial cosmetic consultation. They will tell you the expected number of Excel V treatments required for the best possible results. 

How long is the recovery time after treatment?

Some temporary redness, swelling, and bruising is expected. This usually resolves within 48 hours. As such, there is no recovery period after Excel V. Many patients resume normal activities straight away. However, you may need to wear compression stockings after spider vein procedures. You may also be advised to avoid biking, hiking, and walking on a treadmill for a short period. It is advisable to protect treated skin from direct sun exposure while it heals.

What are the pros and cons of Excel V procedures?

Pros

  • An adjustable spot size makes the Excel V effective for a wide range of skin conditions.
  • Excel V are the go-to procedures for abnormal blood vessels in the face.
  • The treatment is safe for all skin tones and types.
  • It can be done on any part of the face and body.
  • The procedures are quick with a session typically lasting 15-30 minutes.
  • Patients experience minimal discomfort, similar to a rubber band snap.
  • Topical anesthetic can be used for additional comfort.
  • The proprietary cooling mechanism ensures the handpiece does not overheat, further enhancing patient comfort.
  • Side effects are minor and resolve within a couple of days. There is no downtime. You can return to normal activities immediately.

Cons

  • An aggressive procedure with Excel V can lead to significant swelling or burns.
  • Blood vessels can appear darker or bruised immediately after the procedure, making them temporarily more noticeable before they resolve.
  • Direct sun exposure on the treated area needs to be avoided for at least two weeks.
  • Excel V is less effective against diffuse erythema (redness) than Vbeam.

How does Excel V compare to Vbeam?

Vbeam has been the gold standard for concerns such as facial redness. It is a pulsed dye laser (PDL) that causes capillaries to rupture and the blood to escape into the surrounding tissues. This blood is then heated and destroyed by the Vbeam device. As a result, there can be a bruise (known as purpura), and this can take several weeks to fade. Consequently, Vbeam is associated with a longer downtime than Excel V. This is important if you require the procedures in a highly visible part of the body such as your face.

In contrast, the Excel V laser treats more gently. The collapsed vessels are naturally absorbed by the body over time without bruising. The low level of damage results in very little downtime. However, you may need multiple Excel V sessions to see results.

Is The Excel V Laser Safe?

Excel V is FDA approved and has been in use for more than a decade without any reports of serious adverse events. As long as you choose a board-certified physician with extensive experience using this device, your treatment should be safe and effective. 

Are there any side effects?

As noted, there can be some temporary redness and swelling of the skin after Excel V, similar to a sunburn. These concerns are typically mild and resolve within a day or two.

Am I a good candidate for Excel V treatments?

Excel V allows all skin types based on the Fitzpatrick classification to be treated safely. It treats both type I (very light) and type VI (very dark) skin tones and everything in between. The two wavelengths make this possible. The 532nm is suitable for lighter skin colors. The 1064nm wavelength is ideal for all skin tones. Your plastic surgery or dermatology office will make the final decision on whether you can undergo Excel V.

How much does Excel V laser treatment cost?

The cost of your Excel V treatment will vary based on the specific condition. Minor conditions that only require a single session are more affordable, generally ranging from $250-$750. Treatment of large portions of skin and multiple treatment sessions can lead to a proportional increase in price. The average cost of an Excel V session is around $500.

Finding a provider for Excel V laser treatment

Excel V effective treats common skin conditions like spider veins, facial veins, rosacea, and brown spots with minimal downtime and a low risk of side effects. But, like with any laser treatment, it is important to see someone who is board certified and who has extensive training in using lasers. This will ensure the treatments are done safely and effectively.

The MeTime app makes it easy to connect with top-rated providers for Excel V treatments in your area. You can chat with experts, upload pictures, do a video consult, and have suggestions sent directly to you. Download the MeTime app today!

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