Dr. Robert Cutchen Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Meet Dr. Robert Cutchen

In 2009, Dr. Cutchen founded Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute, a clinic dedicated solely to the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. His goal was to provide the most advanced diagnostic and treatment options all in the comfort of his office without the need for hospitalization. Our goal is to treat every patient the way we ourselves would hope to be treated.

Read Dr. Cutchen’s full bio here

Vein Treatments Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Vein Treatments

We provide our patients with the most advanced and comprehensive vein treatments. See the difference between before and after.

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Aesthetic Treatments Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Aesthetic Treatments

We utilize the power of advanced laser technology to treat a multitude of cosmetic concerns. See what a difference our treatments can make.

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Patient Resources Albuquerque & Santa FeDo you have a question?

Discover our FAQ pages to find your answers. If you still have a question, please call us at (505) 848-8346 and we will be happy to assist you.

Spider Vein Overview

Spider Vein Overview

Often found on the legs but sometimes on the face and nose, spider veins are pesky and unattractive, but are very easy to treat!

What are Spider Veins?

What Treatments are Available?

Am I a Good Candidate?

What Results Can I Expect?

Unsightly spider veins are truly cosmetic in nature, appearing as thread-like (1mm or less) red, blue or purplish veins that are commonly found on the calves, thighs, and ankles, and sometimes occur in clusters.

Spider veins may be associated with “feeder veins” or larger underlying varicose veins. Clusters of spider veins, especially around the ankles, can be a symptom of a deeper venous problem, so an examination by a vein specialist is recommended.

Many treatment options exist for spider veins. Sclerotherapy, Veinwave and surface laser procedures can all be used.

On the legs, we prefer sclerotherapy. In this treatment, a very fine needle is used to inject a liquid medication into the spider veins which damages the veins to close them down. The veins actually look a bit worse for about 10 days, then begin to fade. Clusters of veins will likely require more than one treatment to the area. Most patients require 3-5 sessions of sclerotherapy, but individual needs will vary.

Facial spider veins can be treated with Veinwave or surface laser. Veinwave is a device where a very fine electrolysis needle (filament) is placed just into the skin next to the vein. A pulse of radiofrequency energy is then passed through the filament to the vein which damages and closes the vein.

Very fine facial veins, such as in rosacea, can be treated with our Harmony XL Dye-VL laser. This is a hybrid of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Pulsed Dye laser that is absorbed by the very fine veins, heating and damaging the veins to close them. There is little if any discomfort with this amazing laser.

If you hate your spider veins, you are a good candidate. With regard to leg veins, if you have any large bulging veins, those need to be addressed before treating spider veins. Large varicose veins can feed into the spider veins and will keep them from closing and fading. Anyone with large varicose veins will benefit from an ultrasound of the legs to evaluate the larger veins for venous reflux.

If you wonder what treatment is best for you or wonder about larger veins, we recommend you come in for a free vein screening. This quick office visit will allow Dr. Cutchen or Nurse Karol the opportunity to get a closer look and explain the best treatment option for you.

Following sclerotherapy, you may develop some bruising which will gradually disappear over the course of two weeks. Many of the injection sites will have a tiny red bump, like a mosquito bite which fades over hours. You will be required to wear prescription compression stockings for 2 weeks and strenuous exercise should be avoided for 1 week. Sitting in hot tubs or bathtubs should be avoided for 2 weeks.

Spider veins that are treated with sclerotherapy fade over the course of months, not days. Clusters of veins or darker veins will have to be treated on more than one occasion, typically about 6 weeks apart. Most patients require 3-5 sessions of sclerotherapy on their legs, although that number could be more or less with each patient.

For facial veins, Veinwave treatment usually is quite effective, often needing only a single treatment with visible results before you even leave the office. Dye-VL treatment for very fine facial veins will yield the best results with 2-3 treatments separated by about a month.

Unsightly spider veins are truly cosmetic in nature, appearing as thread-like (1mm or less) red, blue or purplish veins that are commonly found on the calves, thighs, and ankles, and sometimes occur in clusters.

Spider veins may be associated with “feeder veins” or larger underlying varicose veins. Clusters of spider veins, especially around the ankles, can be a symptom of a deeper venous problem, so an examination by a vein specialist is recommended.

Many treatment options exist for spider veins. Sclerotherapy, Veinwave and surface laser procedures can all be used.

On the legs, we prefer sclerotherapy. In this treatment, a very fine needle is used to inject a liquid medication into the spider veins which damages the veins to close them down. The veins actually look a bit worse for about 10 days, then begin to fade. Clusters of veins will likely require more than one treatment to the area. Most patients require 3-5 sessions of sclerotherapy, but individual needs will vary.

Facial spider veins can be treated with Veinwave or surface laser. Veinwave is a device where a very fine electrolysis needle (filament) is placed just into the skin next to the vein. A pulse of radiofrequency energy is then passed through the filament to the vein which damages and closes the vein.

Very fine facial veins, such as in rosacea, can be treated with our Harmony XL Dye-VL laser. This is a hybrid of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Pulsed Dye laser that is absorbed by the very fine veins, heating and damaging the veins to close them. There is little if any discomfort with this amazing laser.

If you hate your spider veins, you are a good candidate. With regard to leg veins, if you have any large bulging veins, those need to be addressed before treating spider veins. Large varicose veins can feed into the spider veins and will keep them from closing and fading. Anyone with large varicose veins will benefit from an ultrasound of the legs to evaluate the larger veins for venous reflux.

If you wonder what treatment is best for you or wonder about larger veins, we recommend you come in for a free vein screening. This quick office visit will allow Dr. Cutchen or Nurse Karol the opportunity to get a closer look and explain the best treatment option for you.

Following sclerotherapy, you may develop some bruising which will gradually disappear over the course of two weeks. Many of the injection sites will have a tiny red bump, like a mosquito bite which fades over hours. You will be required to wear prescription compression stockings for 2 weeks and strenuous exercise should be avoided for 1 week. Sitting in hot tubs or bathtubs should be avoided for 2 weeks.

Spider veins that are treated with sclerotherapy fade over the course of months, not days. Clusters of veins or darker veins will have to be treated on more than one occasion, typically about 6 weeks apart. Most patients require 3-5 sessions of sclerotherapy on their legs, although that number could be more or less with each patient.

For facial veins, Veinwave treatment usually is quite effective, often needing only a single treatment with visible results before you even leave the office. Dye-VL treatment for very fine facial veins will yield the best results with 2-3 treatments separated by about a month.

Sclerotherapy Before and After | Albuquerque & Santa Fe

If you would like to learn more about Spider Vein treatment, please call our office at 505-848-8346 today to schedule a consultation or fill out the form on this page and one of our trusted staff members will reach out to you promptly.