Laser Treatments for Port Wine Stains Video

In this video Dr. Terri Labberton discusses and demonstrates the treatment of a port wine stain on the back of a patient's leg using the Gemini Laser

Port Wine stains are a congenital abnormality of the blood vessels and capillaries under the surface of the skin. These bright reddish-purple lesions tend to worsen and become raised into a lumpy mass with age. The condition can be devastating to a person's self-esteem depending on size and location.

In this video, Dr. Terri Labberton demonstrates using the Gemini laser for removal of port wine stains in adults. Since port wine stains lie deep beneath the skin, several treatments are typically necessary in order for the laser's energy to penetrate deeply enough to break up all the blood vessels. The laser's energy is designed to be attracted to the deep red color of the clustered vessels and the heat created by the laser causes the vessels to collapse, allowing the body to metabolize and carry away the damaged blood vessel fragments and minimize the discoloration. The  treatment duration varies from patient to patient depending on the depth and intensity of the lesion. Typically, ten to twenty treatments will be necessary to effectively fade the discoloration.

The Gemini Laser treatment procedure is very simple and only takes a few seconds once the patient is prepped with eye protection. A clear gel is applied to the stain and the laser's energy is applied at close range in rapid pulses, blanching the top layer of the lesion. Dr. Labberton then changes the frequency of the laser to penetrate deeper down into the next layer of blood vessels. The patient may briefly feel a mild to moderate burning or stinging sensation, so an ice pack can be applied after the treatment to relieve any resulting discomfort. Continued application of an ice pack may be necessary, as the treated area may continue to feel hot for several hours after treatment. Initially, the treated area will display some swelling and have a sunburned appearance. The port wine stain may actually appear darker for a up to a week before the fading process begins. Scabs or blisters may also be present on any of the surrounding normal skin contacted by the laser and will also require some healing time. Though the appearance of the stain looks worse before it looks better, it is rare to see any permanent scarring from the Gemini laser and many port wine stains can completely vanish with little or no evidence of their previous existence.