How are spider veins treated?
Spider veins are treated depending upon the presence or absence of “feeder” veins. These are larger veins below the surface often not visible to the eye. The larger veins are closed with SCLEROTHERAPY injections of an FDA solution. This may be done in combination with LASER therapy which closes the finer surface veins and reduces the amount of solution needed.
What is sclerotherapy?
This involves injection of SOTRADECOL solution (FDA approved) into the spider veins. This causes a spasm and closes down the vein. Other solutions such as SALINE injections are also used in other centers but these are mostly painful and have higher incidence of complications.
Sclerotherapy can be used for surface spider veins, deeper “feeder” veins and, in some instances, in larger varicose veins. A series of treatments is needed (3 -5) to close down veins, spaced about 4-6 weeks apart. Mostly, sclerotherapy is not covered by insurance as it is considered cosmetic.
Are treatments painful?
Occasionally there will be a short period of itching which is usually gone by the end of the treatment. The needles used are extremely small and changed frequently which causes minimal discomfort if any. Numbing creams are not normally needed and come with their own complicatins. Most patients tolerate vein injections without any problems.
After treatment restrictions and care?
You may resume normal activities after your vein treatments. Often there is a dressing over the treated areas to put pressure on the treated veins. You will be placed into medical grade compression stocking (not your “Grandmother’s” stockings) and these are worn approximately
2 – 4 weeks depending upon your particular vein problems. You will be given a lotion to apply to treated veins which speeds your healing. You may exercise normally.
Laser spider vein treatment - what is involved?
Laser uses light energy to cause the veins to close down. This is very controlled and the setting adjusted to your skin color and size of veins. It is very effective on facial spider veins. The laser is like a large pen attached to the unit. The skin is pre-cooled and the laser has a built in cooling tip. This makes the procedure comfortable and effective. The sensation from the laser is like a short “ping with a rubber band”.
Laser vein treatment is used in combination with SCLEROTHERAPY when there are larger “feeder” veins below the surface. A series of treatments is needed and this varies from person to person. This procedure is not covered by insurance and it is considered cosmetic.
Can laser be used on face veins?
Laser can be very effective on facial veins. Facial spider veins should never be injected. Eye protection must also be worn for all laser treatments with black out lenses used during facial treatments. Many times facial veins can disappear in one or two treatments. Residual redness for several hours to overnight can be present. There are no restrictions after laser treatments except to use a 30+ SPF UVA and UVB protection. In some patients, there may be diffuse redness remaining which can often be treated with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light – See other services offered section). Our staff is experienced in the use of many kinds of lasers and educated in safety and appropriate use.
How safe is laser?
In the hands of experienced professionals, laser is very safe. We have ensured that all staff are trained in the use and precautions of operating lasers. Everyone in the room wears special eye protection. We start with the lowest safe setting to determine the response of your veins to the treatment.
Cost of treatments?
We do not differentiate between laser and sclerotherapy as they are often used together. Our treatment plans are customized to your particular vein problems. Because of this the fee structure varies from person to person. Also the time involved to treat vein successfully varies.
We offer complimentary consultations at which time we will offer and estimate and payment options.
Will the veins come back or are treatments permanent?
When treated appropriately (closing down “feeder” veins) spider vein should not return. Many people have a genetic predisposition to develop spider and varicose veins and therefore may develop veins in other areas. We offer “maintenance” programs for people to come and have new areas treated when first noticed. This eliminates the veins before they become larger and unsightly.
What is a Varicose Vein?
Varicose vein are small or large vein that bulge above the surface of the skin and can range from skin colored to red, blue or purple. Most commonly they are seen on the inside or back of lower legs but are also found on other parts of the legs and body. The veins of the lower legs must bring the blood back up to the heart for reoxygenation using the valves inside. The effect of gravity make the task even more difficult. Failure of these valves causes the blood to “pool” in the veins of the lower legs (chronic venous insufficiency). These varicose veins can appear like bulging twisted ropes or raised and straighter in appearance. Varcisose veins can be a single ropey vein or multiple veins branching off. Varicose veins are also found on the upper thighs, genital areas (especially in pregnant women) and abdomen.
What causes Varicose Veins?
A strong family history of varicose veins will predispose a person to developing them in both men and women. This is an inherited weakness of the valves within the veins. Most often then stem from weak valves in larger, deeper veins (venous insufficiency). The surface veins are the lower branches of these veins and are the ones that cause the painful symptoms.
Injuries from sports such as kicks, balls or bats can cause a disruption of the normal veins and the valves within them. Other types of traumatic injury such as leg fractures can also damage these valves. These are usually “non-truncal” meaning that they often don’t stem from valve problems in deeper veins.
Hormonal changes occurring with puberty, birth control medication, pregnancy and menopause (especially with hormone replacement therapy) increase the risk or varicose and spider veins.
Pregnancy causes a large increase in the circulating blood volume of a woman. Along with hormonal changes, this causes vein to expand to accommodate the extra volume. Combine this with the expanding size of the uterus and the pressure it exerts inside the lower abdomen, varicose veins can develop. Usually the vein will return to normal size and function withing 3 months of delivery or cessation of breast feeding. Subsequent pregnancies can cause permanent damage to the valves within these vein and often they will not return to normal and can increase in severity with advancing age.
Obesity, while not a direct cause of varisose veins, can place additional pressure of malfunctioning veins. Most overweight patients we see usually have a strong family history of varicose veins or multiple pregnancies. We very often see people who have had dramatic weight loss showing increased symptoms and more noticeable varicose veins.
Prolonged standing can aggravate existing conditions of venous insufficiency (broken valves in the veins) and will cause increasing symptoms over time in these people. |
