By Megan Harris — Laser Specialist, Cool Laser Skin Studio Calgary | Broken Capillaries Treatment Calgary
If you’ve been choosing outfits around visible veins on your legs, or covering up redness on your face year after year — this post is for you.
Broken capillaries, cherry angiomas, and visible vessels are some of the most common skin concerns I treat at Cool Laser Skin Studio in Calgary. They’re also some of the most undertreated — because most people simply don’t know how quick and easy the fix actually is.
Here’s everything you need to know about vascular concerns.
What Are Broken Capillaries, Cherry Angiomas and Visible Vessels?
These are all vascular concerns — meaning they involve blood vessels near the surface of the skin — but they’re slightly different:
Broken capillaries
These are tiny blood vessels just beneath the skin’s surface that have stretched, lost their elasticity, and become permanently dilated. They appear as fine red or pink lines, most commonly on the face, nose, and legs. Causes include genetics, trauma to the skin, sun exposure, and anything that weakens vessel walls over time.
Small, bright red to purple raised or flat spots made up of clustered capillaries. They’re completely harmless but can appear anywhere on the body and tend to multiply with age. Once they’re there, they don’t go away on their own.
Visible vessels
Larger, more defined blood vessels that have become visible through the skin — commonly seen on the legs, ankles, and face. Leg vessels are especially common in women and can cause real self-consciousness, especially heading into summer.
What all three have in common: laser can target and eliminate all of them.
Why the Nd:YAG 1064nm Laser Is the Gold Standard for Vascular Treatments
Not all lasers are built for vascular work — and this is where the science really matters.
The Nd:YAG 1064nm laser’s chromophore — its target in the skin — is haemoglobin, which is the protein in blood. This means the laser has a precise, specific target: the blood inside the vessel. It locks on, heats it, and collapses the vessel — leaving every millimetre of surrounding skin completely intact.
Compare that to IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): IPL uses scattered, broad-spectrum light with no single precise target. It can work for surface-level redness, but it lacks the depth and specificity to effectively collapse deeper or more defined vessels.
The 1064nm wavelength also penetrates deeper into the skin than IPL or shorter wavelength lasers — which means it can reach vessels that sit below the surface, not just those right at the top. For leg vessels, raised cherry angiomas, and deeper facial capillaries, this makes all the difference.
This is why I use the Clarity II by Lutronic — it’s built for exactly this kind of precise, effective vascular work.
What Does Treatment Actually Look Like?
This is one of the most satisfying treatments to do — the results are visible immediately.
For cherry angiomas:
One precise pulse per spot. The angioma goes grey, darkens over the next few minutes, forms a small scab over the following days, and sloughs off within 1–2 weeks. Most are gone in a single session.
For broken capillaries and vessels:
We work methodically along the length of the vessel — from one end to the other — with precise pulses to completely collapse it. The vessel darkens immediately as the blood coagulates inside. Cold rollers and ice packs are applied afterwards to calm any inflammation and keep the skin comfortable throughout.
Sessions typically take 10–30 minutes depending on the number and size of vessels being treated. Most clients need 1–2 sessions for full clearance.
Downtime is minimal:
- Avoid heat and heavy exercise for 24–48 hours post-treatment
- No saunas, steam rooms, or hot showers right after
- Apply SPF to treated areas
- That’s it — most clients go straight back to their day
How Long Until You See Results?
This is the question I get asked most — and the honest answer is: it depends on the vessel.
Some vessels and cherry angiomas disappear instantly during the session. Others take time as your lymphatic system flushes out the collapsed vessel — and that process takes 3–10 weeks.
Patience is part of the process. The vessel has been collapsed — your body just needs time to clear it. This is completely normal and expected, and why I always remind clients not to judge their results too early.
A Real Client Story: Summer Ready After Years of Covering Up
One of my clients came in with visible vessels on her legs she’d been self-conscious about for years. With summer approaching, she was done hiding them.
After her first session, 80% of the vessels were gone. The second session cleared the rest.
Watching her confidence come back was one of the most fulfilling moments I’ve had in this work. She was patient through the process — understanding that the lymphatic system takes time — and the results were absolutely worth it.
We also did laser hair removal at the same time and she walked into summer completely ready. That’s what this is all about.
What About Facial Redness and Rosacea?
The face is the second most common treatment area I see for vascular concerns — and it’s where clients often get the most emotional about their results.
Clients with rosacea or chronic facial flushing love laser facial treatments because we can address both the visible vessels and the underlying microvascular system that causes persistent redness. The laser facial supports the vascular network in the skin, reducing overall redness and reactivity over time — not just individual visible vessels.
Broken capillaries on the nose and cheeks are among the most treatable vascular concerns I see. Fast to treat, dramatic results.
You Don’t Have to Let Your Vessels Control What You Wear
Visible vessels and broken capillaries are more common than you think — especially in women. You are not alone in feeling self-conscious about them, and you are absolutely not stuck with them.
With Clarity II technology, I can treat them quickly, effectively, and comfortably. No pain. 1–2 sessions. And your confidence back in time for summer.
It will be the best investment in yourself you make this year.
Ready to finally do something about it? Book a free consultation at Cool Laser Skin Studio Calgary and let’s talk about what’s possible for your skin.
