A port-wine stain is an abnormal development of blood vessels that is usually present at birth. Port-wine stains do not usually resolve on their own. Typically, as a result of the underlying blood vessels enlarging, port-wine stains darken as one gets older. This may also result in tortuous blood vessels that can bleed.

Laser surgery is the treatment of choice for port-wine stains. Two state-of-the-art vascular lasers — the Scleroplus Pulse Dye Laser and the Versapulse Yag Laser — are used in the treatment of port-wine stains. It may take 10 or more treatments (with a 1 to 2 month waiting period between sessions) to completely treat a port-wine stain. Early initiation of treatment is recommended since as they mature, port-wine stains become more difficult to treat. Younger children are generally treated in Doernbecher Children's Hospital under sedation. Older children and adults are treated with either no anesthesia or a topical numbing cream. The treatment is usually very well tolerated as both of the vascular lasers have a chilling mechanism that cools the skin during the treatment, thereby reducing the discomfort dramatically.

Depending on the laser that is used for the treatment, the post operative recovery period varies. The Scleroplus leaves the skin bruised and swollen for 7-10 days, whereas the Versapulse leaves minimal postoperative changes.