Spider veins and broken capillaries are some of the most common skin concerns Dr. Tania Hassanzadeh sees in her Beverly Hills practice. They appear without warning, they do not respond to skincare products, and they have a way of drawing attention to areas of the face that patients would far prefer to keep looking clear and even. For years, treating these tiny but persistent vascular lesions required either tolerating them or accepting treatments that were imprecise, uncomfortable, or associated with significant downtime.
VascuPen has changed that conversation entirely.
As part of the Alma Harmony laser platform, VascuPen offers a precise, effective, and elegantly minimally invasive solution for visible vascular lesions on the face and body. This guide covers everything you need to know about VascuPen, from how it works to what you can expect before, during, and after your treatment.
What Is VascuPen?
VascuPen is a specialized diode laser handpiece within the Alma Harmony system, designed specifically for the targeted treatment of vascular lesions. Unlike broad-spectrum light treatments that deliver energy across a wider area, VascuPen works with millimeter-level precision, delivering concentrated laser energy directly into individual vessels, capillaries, and lesions without affecting the surrounding skin.
This level of precision is what sets VascuPen apart. It allows Dr. Hassanzadeh to treat even the smallest, most delicate vascular concerns with control and accuracy that broader devices simply cannot match.
What Can VascuPen Treat?
VascuPen is effective across a wide range of vascular and pigmented lesions, including:
Spider Veins: Small, web-like clusters of red, blue, or purple vessels that appear close to the surface of the skin, most commonly on the face, nose, and cheeks.
Broken Capillaries: Tiny dilated blood vessels, also known as telangiectasias, that become visible through the skin and create a reddish or flushed appearance. They are particularly common around the nose, chin, and cheeks.
Cherry Angiomas: Small, bright red or purple dome-shaped spots made up of clusters of dilated capillaries near the surface of the skin. They are benign but cosmetically bothersome for many patients.
Rosacea-Related Redness: Persistent facial redness and visible vessels associated with rosacea respond well to VascuPen’s targeted energy, reducing the appearance of chronic flushing and surface vascularity.
Small Pigmented Lesions: Certain small, superficial pigmented spots also respond to VascuPen’s diode laser energy, making it a versatile option for patients with multiple surface concerns.
How Does VascuPen Work?
VascuPen operates on a principle called selective photothermolysis. The diode laser emits a specific wavelength of light that is selectively absorbed by oxyhemoglobin, the pigment found in blood vessels. When the laser energy is absorbed, it heats the vessel walls, causing the targeted vessel to collapse and seal shut. The body then naturally absorbs and eliminates the treated vessel over the following weeks, clearing it from view without any damage to the surrounding skin tissue.
Because the laser energy is so precisely directed, the treatment can be applied to individual vessels with extraordinary accuracy, which is especially important when working on the delicate skin of the face.
The VascuPen Experience
One of the most appealing qualities of VascuPen is how straightforward and comfortable the treatment experience is. Here is what you can expect from your session:
Consultation and Assessment
Before any treatment begins, Dr. Hassanzadeh will conduct a thorough evaluation of your skin, assess the nature and extent of your vascular concerns, and determine whether VascuPen is the most appropriate modality for your specific lesions. In some cases, she may recommend combining VascuPen with another Alma Harmony treatment, such as the Iris Dye-VL, for more comprehensive vascular and pigmentation correction.
The Treatment Session
During the procedure, a topical numbing cream may be applied to maximize your comfort. The VascuPen handpiece is then guided precisely over each targeted vessel. Most patients describe the sensation as a brief, sharp flicking feeling as each vessel is treated, similar to the snap of a small rubber band. The experience is very well tolerated and requires no anesthesia.
Treatment sessions are typically short, ranging from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the number and extent of the vessels being addressed. There is no need to arrange for a driver or clear your schedule for recovery.
Immediately After Treatment
Following your VascuPen session, the treated vessels may appear slightly darker, redder, or more prominent for a short period. This is completely normal and is actually a sign that the laser has successfully targeted the vessel. Mild redness or swelling in the immediate treatment area may also be present for a few hours following your session.
Most patients return to their normal daily routine immediately after treatment. Makeup can typically be applied the following day, and there are no significant activity restrictions.
VascuPen Recovery and Results Timeline
VascuPen is celebrated for its minimal downtime, making it one of the most convenient vascular treatments available. Here is a general timeline of what to expect as your results develop.
Days 1 to 3: Treated vessels may appear darker or more visible as the body begins the process of absorbing the collapsed vessel walls. Some patients notice mild redness or a subtle crust over individual treatment points, which resolves on its own without intervention.
Week 1 to 2: The treated vessels begin to fade noticeably as the body clears them from the skin. The improvement during this window is often striking.
Weeks 2 to 6: Full clearance of treated vessels becomes visible as the skin continues to heal and refine. For cherry angiomas and larger vessels, this timeline may extend slightly further.
Final Results: Most patients achieve significant to complete clearance of targeted lesions, with results that are long-lasting and, in many cases, permanent for the specific vessels treated. New vessels can develop over time due to genetics, sun exposure, hormonal changes, or rosacea, which is why periodic maintenance treatments are a worthwhile consideration for many patients.
How Many VascuPen Treatments Will I Need?
The number of sessions required depends on the nature, size, and density of the vascular lesions being treated. Many patients see impressive results after a single session, particularly for isolated spider veins, cherry angiomas, and broken capillaries.
Patients with more extensive vascularity, diffuse redness, or rosacea-related concerns typically achieve optimal results over a series of two to four treatments spaced several weeks apart. Dr. Hassanzadeh will provide a personalized treatment plan during your consultation based on a thorough assessment of your skin and your goals.
Is VascuPen Right for You?
VascuPen is an excellent option for patients who are bothered by visible spider veins, broken capillaries, cherry angiomas, or persistent facial redness and who are looking for a precise, effective solution with minimal disruption to their daily life.
Ideal candidates are in good overall health, have realistic expectations about the gradual nature of vascular clearance, and are committed to protecting their results with consistent sun protection following treatment.
VascuPen is safe for a wide range of skin types, though a thorough consultation with Dr. Hassanzadeh is the most reliable way to determine whether it is the right treatment for your specific concerns and skin tone.
Combining VascuPen With Other Treatments
One of the great advantages of the Alma Harmony platform is the ability to combine modalities in the same session for a more comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation. VascuPen pairs beautifully with the Iris Dye-VL for patients dealing with both vascular redness and pigmentation concerns, and it can be incorporated into broader treatment plans that include ClearLift Pro for skin laxity.
During your consultation, Dr. Hassanzadeh will assess your skin comprehensively and recommend the combination of treatments that will deliver the most meaningful, natural-looking improvement for your unique concerns.
Schedule Your VascuPen Consultation
If spider veins, broken capillaries, or persistent facial redness have been affecting your confidence, VascuPen may be exactly the solution you have been looking for.
Schedule your private consultation with Dr. Tania Hassanzadeh at her Beverly Hills practice today and take the first step toward clearer, more luminous skin.
Dr. Tania Hassanzadeh
Dr. Tania Hassanzadeh, MD, is a fellowship-trained Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, CA. She earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed rigorous training in Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Hassanzadeh then completed dual fellowships in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, gaining expertise in rhinoplasty and facial reconstruction. Known for her warm and empathetic approach, she is dedicated to helping patients restore confidence and natural beauty through both surgical and non-surgical treatments, including facelifts, eyelid surgery, lip lifts, and injectables.