Réhabital
Spider Veins and Visible Capillaries: Treatment in Côte Saint-Luc
Spider veins are the small red, purple or bluish vessels that appear in webs on the legs, thighs or around the nose. They are usually harmless, but they bother many people and tend to multiply over the years. At Réhabital in Côte Saint-Luc, on the island of Montréal, Liliana Ciocoi assesses your vessels with SharpLight technology and determines whether they are suitable for vascular treatment, clearly separating cosmetic concerns from situations that need medical assessment.
Book an AppointmentUnderstanding This Condition
Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are dilated vessels sitting very close to the skin surface, generally under one millimetre in diameter. On the face they appear mostly on the sides of the nose and cheeks, often alongside rosacea or sun damage. On the legs they form webs or fans, frequently on the outer thigh or behind the knee. They must be distinguished from reticular veins, which are larger and bluish, and above all from true varicose veins, which are raised and tortuous and reflect venous insufficiency: when varicose veins, ankle swelling by the end of the day, marked heaviness, skin colour changes or a non-healing wound are present, medical assessment of venous circulation is required before any cosmetic treatment, because treating the surface without correcting the cause leads to rapid recurrence. Treatment of superficial spider veins uses light energy that selectively heats the haemoglobin inside the vessel, closing it so the body can gradually clear it.
Common Symptoms
Common Causes
Genetic predisposition
Heredity is the strongest factor: when parents have spider veins the risk rises substantially, often with earlier onset and faster progression.
Prolonged standing or sitting
Occupations requiring long hours standing or sitting raise pressure in the superficial leg veins, promoting permanent dilation.
Pregnancy and hormonal changes
Increased blood volume, pressure on pelvic veins and hormonal effects on the vein wall make pregnancy a frequent cause of new or worsening spider veins.
Sun damage and facial rosacea
On the face, cumulative sun exposure and the chronic inflammation of rosacea weaken superficial vessels, which then stay permanently dilated.
Underlying venous insufficiency
When valves in deeper veins work poorly, pressure is pushed toward the surface. In that case spider veins are a symptom, and treatment must begin with medical assessment of the circulation.
Our Treatment Approach
Liliana Ciocoi starts with a full assessment: vessel location, size and colour, skin type on the Fitzpatrick scale, medical history, photosensitizing medications, recent sun exposure and signs of venous insufficiency. If signs of varicose veins or insufficiency are present, we refer you for medical assessment first, because treating the surface would be ineffective. Otherwise, treatment uses SharpLight technology: light energy is absorbed by haemoglobin, the vessel heats, coagulates and clears gradually over weeks. A small test area is always treated before the first full session to verify your response and calibrate the settings. Facial vessels generally respond faster than leg vessels. As complements, naturopathy with Elena Caliniuc, ANHQ, can support vascular health and inflammation, and massage therapy helps with heavy-leg comfort without claiming to remove vessels. Current pricing is published on our pricing page.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
The initial consultation takes about 30 to 45 minutes and includes assessment, the small test area and an explanation of the plan and estimated number of sessions. During treatment you feel a tingling or light elastic-snap sensation, with integrated cooling for comfort. Afterward, redness and mild swelling are normal for a few hours to a few days, and treated vessels may look darker before fading. You receive written aftercare and sun protection instructions.
At-Home Self-Care Tips
- Apply daily sun protection to treated areas.
- Avoid sun, tanning beds, saunas and hot baths after a session.
- Wear compression stockings if your health professional recommends them.
- Move regularly and elevate your legs after a long day of standing.
- Avoid intense exercise for 24 to 48 hours after leg treatment.
- Do not scratch or rub treated areas while they heal.
Prognosis & Recovery Timeline
Facial spider veins often respond well in one to three sessions, with visible improvement within the first weeks. Legs usually need three to six sessions four to six weeks apart, with more variable results depending on vessel depth and calibre. Treatment closes existing vessels but does not prevent new ones, since the predisposition remains: annual maintenance is common. When venous insufficiency is present and untreated, recurrence is rapid, which is why the initial assessment matters so much.
When to See Us at Réhabital
See us for superficial facial or leg spider veins that bother you cosmetically, without signs of venous insufficiency. See a physician first for raised varicose veins, significant ankle swelling, pain or localized warmth in a calf, brownish skin discolouration at the ankles, a non-healing wound, or bleeding from a vessel.
Why Réhabital Clinic
We refuse to treat vessels without checking what is happening deeper: in Côte Saint-Luc, on the island of Montréal, the initial assessment exists precisely to rule out venous insufficiency that would make treatment pointless. You know in advance how many sessions to plan and what result is realistic.
Recommended Services for This Condition
Our Core Treatments in Côte Saint-Luc
Related Conditions
Why Choose Réhabital?
Frequently Asked Questions
Address
D4-5800 Cavendish Blvd
Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5
Phone
(438) 842-3550Hours
Mon–Fri: 10AM–8PM
Sun: 10AM–4PM
Relieve Your Pain Today
Book online or call us for a comprehensive assessment with our qualified professionals.
Book Now