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I have this dark blue/purple lesion on my lip that keeps getting bigger. I went to see the dermatologist and she said that it's a venous lake. She said it was nothing I had to worry about. Does anyone else have one or know of someone who does? If so, what was your/their treatment?
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Anonymous,
July 26, 2010 - 1:14pmThank you for your response. I have opted to receive email notifications when someone posts so it's good to see what people are experiencing. It's interesting too how the cost varies. My V-Beam procedures cost $75 each and they fly the team up from California to here in Washington state. Mine is not completely gone after four treatments so I think I am convinced to try the Cutera as a couple of people have posted here with good results. I will keep everyone up to date on my progress as well!
Holly
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Sorry, I forgot to mention that there was no post procedure bleeding for me at any time. I believe since the laser's objection is to cauterize the offending vein that that should prevent it from post op bleeding.
July 26, 2010 - 10:36amHolly
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I am Holly the 57 year old who has posted here several times with my experiences. For me, the laser treatment scabbing was minimal, less than with a cold sore. As you know being in the health field we all heal differently so your heal time may be more or less than mine. For me the bruising was maybe a little over a week. I was told up to 3 weeks. Since I have had 4 procedures, the last two at different wave lengths, those procedures caused more bruising but not so much that it was unsightly. It is very important to wear a sunscreen after this and forever as they sun is your enemy for your lips. Many cold sores are caused by the sun. So that's very important. It is also important to keep a cream on it that they should give you at your visit. This helps it to heal faster in my opinion as it doesn't form a hard scab which can tear off and bleed plus, you are able to use a lipstick (over your sunscreen!) to help cover the short time you have a bruise.
July 26, 2010 - 10:33amSo in short, keep it creamed, sunscreened and healing should be a breeze! This post is getting long but be sure to read about other people's procedures as there are several different types. Mine was the V-Beam but one of the other posters has the Cutera Laser and she had a great result but again, we are all different and what works for one may not work for another. I wish you the best of luck. Please be sure to keep us posted on your experience!
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Anon - I've not had to deal with this personally, so I really don't know what to recommend, and I've tried to locate patient support groups for this for those who've written in, but haven't been able to find any so far. I think other patients often are the best ones to get information from in making a decision like this. You might want to try writing an "Ask" on the site to ask other women who've had a venous lake for their opinions. When comments are deep into a thread less people see them, so if you write an "Ask" you should reach more people. Just go to the home page to do this, if that sounds like an option you'd like. Hope that helps!
July 14, 2010 - 5:08pmThis Comment
Hi Pat, I have only just started looking into the options, not sure if our NHS system would cover the laser treatment so would need to go private and because I stay in Scotland not that many clinics around would need to go to England. I think the main thing that concerns me is having a large scar (although i know it wont be) and for it to return as have read some comments that some people have had theirs return - just a lot of avenues to cover before i make a decision and weigh up all the pros and cons. My VL is on the top of my lip and almost centre. Would you recommend having it removed/lasered?
July 14, 2010 - 2:37pmThis Comment
Anon, I am Holly, the 57year old who has had several laser treatments for my VL which I have had for over 30 years. I too have heard that having it cut out will leave a scar. I opted first to have laser treatment. Here in the states, it is considered 'cosmetic' so insurance does not cover it either however I would check and see how much it will cost you as the price here has fallen as I stated in one of my earlier posts from $200 per treatment to $75. I finished my 4th laser treatment in May.
July 14, 2010 - 8:41pmEach person will experience a different outcome as you may have seen in this forum. After my treatments:
1. It doesn't throb like it used to when bending over.
2. It is not as blue nor puffy so a well pigmented lipstick covers it.
While it is not gone, it is less noticeable. I still have not decided whether I will eventually have it cut out as I too would hate to have a scar (albeit a small one) only to have it return. I was told that it is not a straight incision but more circular, as if they cut out a section the circumference of the VL. I'm not too keen on that.
While I am pleased with the results as stated in 1 and 2 above, it is not gone and I have noticed that there is some additional 'bruising' or 'bleeding effect' that has occurred sometime after healing. I am waiting to see if this is a side affect from the 4 treatments I had or if it will fade in time as I was told that it takes awhile for the blood to reabsorb. It is still coverable with lipstick.
I am not trying to talk you out of it as I am still pleased with the laser results, just disappointed that it is not entirely gone. If I was asked if I would do the treatments again, I would. The biggest improvement with the treatments was the bump that was quite puffy is now gone.
Everyone will have different results and your doctor, whether it is a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or vascular surgeon will be the best person to advise you. All you can get from us here is support in knowing what you are going through. Hang in there!
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My venous lake was close to the service of my lip caused by repeated unconscious lip biting while eating. I used the Cutera Laser that was suggested by someone on this site who lives 3000 miles from me. It worked! The doctor did two really quite zaps. Took three weeks to heal. It completely disappeared.
July 15, 2010 - 9:11amThis Comment
Anon, I forgot to ask. How long ago did you have the Cutera Laser treatment?
July 15, 2010 - 9:48amHolly
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May 18, 2010 in California. Cost: $150. but was completely covered by my insurance because it would bleed once in a while.
July 15, 2010 - 12:09pmThis Comment
Keep us informed if you will as to the progress of your treatment. These things seem to be hit and miss once they are removed by any method. As yours is newly taken care of it would be of interest to be updated by you with your results. If in a couple of months you are still pleased and it is completely gone, I may consider that for my next round of treatment. Thank you for sharing!
July 15, 2010 - 3:10pmThis Comment