When thinking ahead to your next appointment you may be concerned about injections or other invasive treatment. Some people at other centers have experienced missed veins and multiple injection sites and bruises. To combat this, we use the AccuVein vein finder here at Nourished Med Spa and Wellness Center in Sherman, Texas to ensure our treatments are comfortable and safe. Keep reading to learn more about this innovative technology.
What Is the AccuVein Vein Finder?
The AccuVein is a handheld, portable device used to reveal veins by illuminating them on the surface of the patient’s skin. In our facilities, we use the AccuVein AV400 to provide state-of-the-art care to our patients. With it, our specialists can provide more personalized care, customizing treatment needs to suit your own body.
This cutting-edge piece of equipment can map your veins immediately before treatment. It gives our experts a current reading of the most easily accessible veins to minimize your discomfort during injections, IVs, and other bloodwork. It takes the guesswork out of finding veins by providing a highly visible and easy-to-read representation of where a patient’s veins are located.
The device works by using proprietary vein visualization technology that shines an infrared light on the patients’ skin. The hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein) within the patient’s blood absorbs the light, creating a red pattern that can be seen on the surface of the skin. The oxygen-depleted veins appear darker in the pattern, indicating the presence of a vein. These dark “roads” along the skin guide our specialists to their target as they find a suitable vein to use for treatment.
Our professionals use this map for finding locations to set up an IV, standard injection sites, as well as locations to draw blood for tests. It can also alert the specialists of anything unexpected in the veins or potential problem areas requiring further investigation to prevent any surprises once treatment is underway.
The Process
Like a typical injection process, one of our specialists will sit down with you to find the perfect site for the treatment. With this device in hand, they will scan up and down the target area looking for a location to make the insertion. They are looking for highly visible dark-appearing spots indicating the location of a vein close to the surface of the skin.
That’s all! Once a spot is found we will immediately get to work preparing for the needlework. The timeline of finding an injection site varies but is typically between a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on what your treatment may require. The scan is quick and painless, giving our professionals valuable information about your body so they can best care for you.
Why We Use It
In the past, doctors and nurses would use an approach based on visual indicators on the skin to guide them in finding a vein for injection. If a patient had older or darker skin, finding a vein could be difficult, leading to multiple attempts to penetrate the vein to continue treatment. Aside from the discomfort of multiple injections, this could also lead to blood pooling within the skin and bruising.
Even in modern times, the most well-trained professionals may sometimes run into trouble finding an appropriate vein on their own. That’s why we use this device to prevent human error and keep the treatment process running smoothly. By creating a highly visible map of a patients’ veins before the injection, we are able to give customized, individualized care and peace of mind in a way not possible before.
For every step of the process, you will be able to see the veins just as our specialists do and can ask questions about what care is being given. We understand that needles are not the most comfortable of experiences, so we use this projection technology to streamline the experience for our patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Benefits of the AccuVein?
Using this technology, finding locations for injections is simple, quick, and convenient. This keeps the treatment process on-track and safe. Additionally, the guide map created by the AccuVein minimizes the possibility of failed injections that can lead to bruising or other complications.
Will I Be Able to See the Veins Myself?
Yes, the pattern created by the infrared light is visible to the naked eye. However, the infrared light itself is invisible to human eyes. If you ask one of our experts during treatment, they can describe to you what they are looking for and point it out to you in real time. Transparency is key, and we want you to know everything that we are doing.
The rest of your skin will light up red and look textured. That is normal and simply means that your body is working as it should! The device works by indicating where blood vessels without oxygen (veins) are. The red you see is where the oxygen-rich blood in your body is, such as in arteries and muscle tissue.
What Does It Feel Like?
Nothing! There is no physical contact required while scanning; only a light projected onto your skin. It is a quick and painless pre-scan before any injection is made that does not require any additional treatment or setup.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The time frame may vary depending on what your vein structure looks like, but veins will immediately be visible and finding an appropriate spot should take no more than a couple minutes from start to finish. If necessary, the device can be used during the injection process to keep the darkened veins visible during insertion to ensure success.
What Does the Device Look Like?
The device is a small, 10-ounce unit that projects infrared light. It is reminiscent of a wireless home phone and can either be held in the hand or attached to a chair, bed, or stand as needed.
What Is Infrared Light and What Does It Do?
Infrared light is energy emitted by nearly all things in the universe, but it is normally invisible to humans. The wave of this type of light is longer than those of the light humans can see. An easy way of thinking about it is that infrared light is simply heat. The device uses a very small amount of it to show your veins, and there are no negative side effects from being exposed to the light of the device.
What Happens After the Process Is Over?
Nothing. Once the light is off, your skin will go back to looking like it did before the process. There will be no trace of the scanner or any trace of the lighted texture that appeared during use. Nothing will have happened to your blood cells that absorbed the light, and everything will continue as normal.
Does the Color of My Skin Matter?
No, the infrared light will properly show veins on all skin types.
Is It Safe for Use With Pediatric Patients?
Yes. There are no age restrictions on the device.
What If I Have Dry, Oily, or Easily Irritated Skin?
The device is compatible with all skin types. There is no physical contact necessary during the scan or any special medications required for its function. If you have any special concerns about your skin, consult with your doctor before the scan.
Where Can It Be Used?
The projection can be done on any part of your body as dictated by your specific treatment needs.
Will It Leave a Mark?
There is no physical touching of the device to the patient during the usage of the machine, and it does not leave a mark. However, if an injection or bloodwork is required as part of your care, a small mark may be left by the injection treatment. Any mark will be immediately cared for by our experts to minimize visibility and patient discomfort.
Do I Have to Sit Still While Being Scanned?
During the analysis, you will be able to move as needed. There are no special accommodations needed for the AccuVein vein finder technology to work. For best results, though, remain in a relaxed position and follow the instructions of our experts.
How Many Veins Will I Be Able to See?
The device can show veins in a range of approximately 4”–18” on the surface of a patients’ skin. The number of visible veins will vary depending on the location of treatment. Keep an eye out for prominent dark spots surrounded by red. Please feel free to ask any questions about what you see during your treatment.
Is There Anything I Need to Do to Prepare?
No, there are no special preparations, dietary restrictions, or other prerequisites for the process. There may be requirements based on your specific treatment needs, however, that should be discussed with your doctor prior to your visit.
What If I Have a History of Hard-to-Reach Veins?
The AccuVein technology allows for veins that may be difficult to reach to be seen and tracked to find a proper entry point. The device may be used during the injection to make sure treatment is administered to the correct location. The device can reveal veins up to 10 mm deep within the skin, seeking out even the toughest of veins beneath the skin.
Why Does It Only Work on Veins?
The infrared light is only absorbed and visible by an oxygen-carrying protein. Veins, which carry blood that has already delivered oxygen to the body, do not carry these proteins, so they show up as dark lines on the skin whereas other blood vessels appear as red. This makes it easy to immediately pick out where the patient’s veins are located.
Does It Cost Me Any Additional Money?
No, AccuVein vein detection technology is standard with our care. We want the best for you and your body, and this is just one of the many steps we take to ensure your comfort during your visit with us.
Where Can I Go for More Information?
You can visit our website to learn more information. Hover over the “Aesthetics” menu and select the “AccuVein” heading in the drop-down menu for an in-depth look at the device. There is also an instructional video available on that page showing what the process looks like. From that drop-down menu, you can also check out pages for our other treatment options for information about additional services we can provide.
The AccuVein’s vein finder technology is revolutionizing the way we care for our patients. At the center of everything we do is a commitment to your health and well-being. This is just one of the many ways that we are giving our patients modern care to match this modern time. Call or schedule an appointment with us at Nourished MedSpa and Wellness Center in Sherman, Texas to experience an unrivaled degree of patient care and comfort!
