🥇 New York Hemangiomas Laser Treatment | Los Angeles Vascular Birthmarks

The use of laser therapy in vascular birthmarks is essentially limited to the superficial component, although in some cases, there can be noticeable shrinkage of the overall size after treatment. Dr. Levitin has many lasers at his disposal that are targeted to a specific wavelength depending upon the type of vascular birthmark to be treated. In all cases, the goal is to reduce the color or reverse the involvement of the overlying skin or mucous membrane, which often requires several treatments spaced out over several weeks to maximize the overall effect.

Types of Laser Treatments

Use the tabs below to read a description of the types of laser treatment in use at the Vascular Birthmark Center.

For flat, superficial hemangiomas, pulsed-dye laser treatment is often successful in reducing the red color and removing the telangiectasias (“spider vessels”) within the involved skin. When performed early on, laser therapy can also preserve collagen and improve skin texture.

Patients with smaller hemangiomas may often be given laser therapy without anesthesia; for larger lesions and older patients, laser therapy is often delivered under inhalational general anesthesia for patient comfort. For patients with large or segmental hemangiomas, early intervention with serial laser therapy and concurrent oral propranolol therapy, can dramatically reverse the vascular changes that would otherwise cause damage to the collagen layer of the skin and potentially avoid the need for surgery.

For port-wine stains, pulsed-dye laser is used to treat superficial component of involved skin to prevent further progression. In many cases when laser is begun within the first year of life, early intervention can even reverse the color back and lead to near-normal appearance. Most patients then require additional laser therapy at regular intervals, particularly during the years of early childhood and adolescent growth to prevent recurrence, or further progression or darkening of the stained areas.

Venous malformations cause purple or blue appearance, both on the skin and inside the mouth. YAG laser therapy is very effective, and can completely reverse the dark purple changes commonly seen on the skin and mucous membranes. Furthermore, the use of serial YAG laser therapy can not only restore normal color, but also reduce the overall size and restore texture to involved tissues.

For lymphatic malformations, Dr. Levitin has pioneered the use of Coblation therapy for lesions involving the mucous membranes of the oral cavity lesions. In the past, treatment of lymphatic malformations often relied on the CO2 laser that despite its destructive nature, still led to early recurrence of lesions in most cases. In order to tailor treatment to just the superficial layer, Dr. Levitin has developed a technique using Coblation to refine and control the involvement of the surface of the tongue and mucous membranes, leading to fewer procedures, less pain, and increased long-¬term control of these difficult lesions.

Arterio-venous malformations can create significant vascular changes within the skin and can often benefit from a combined approach with laser and surgical therapies. Laser is typically reserved for management of the involved skin after surgical therapy is completed.

For other vascular malformations, or birthmarks that have not shown significant improvement from past treatments, a combination of different lasers or even using different settings may be most effective, and is determined by Dr. Levitin on an individual basis.

As a highly regarded vascular birthmark specialist in New York, Dr. Levitin puts his skills to great use in providing patients with treatment solutions at the Vascular Birthmark Center of New York using only the most innovative tools and treatment techniques. The Candela VBeam Perfecta pulsed-dye laser is widely regarded as one of the most effective applications for treating vascular, pigmented and certain non-pigmented lesions.

Patients of Dr. Levitin are welcomed to schedule an in-depth consultation on Candela VBeam Perfecta pulsed-dye laser treatment. Discussing treatment outcomes is an important part of the patient journey at The Vascular Birthmark Center of New York. Dr. Levitin will provide advice on maximizing the potential of treatment, such as avoiding exposure to direct sunlight before, during and after the treatment period.

doctor consultation graphic

Free online consultation

Every Birthmark Is Unique

Dr. Levitin’s mission is to provide the most effective treatments in a caring and supportive treatment.
Contact Us Today!

Laser Therapy

Types of Laser Treatments

Free online consultation

Every Birthmark Is Unique

Our Patient ReviewsThe Vascular Birthmark Center: Gregory M. Levitin, MD

Our Patient Reviews
The Vascular Birthmark Center: Gregory M. Levitin, MD