MODEL RELEASED. Image 2 of 3. Cosmetic laser surgery. Hand-held laser being used on a woman's face to remove broken vessels just below the skin. These broken vessels are known as spider veins or sunburst varicosities. The technician and patient are wearing protective glasses to prevent accidental damage to their eyes. The technician is using a magnifying glass to magnify the patient's cheeks. The laser beam is emitted from a pen-like device (lower left). It works by focusing extreme light and heat energy on a very small area while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. For a sequence showing the patient's cheek pre and post operation see images M590/147 and M590/148.