There are effective, safe and relatively painless methods available for reducing spider veins. The most common spider vein treatment involves the injection of a solution into each affected vein, causing the vein to collapse and fade. Laser treatments are also available for the reduction or removal of spider veins.
What are spider veins?
In some women, spider veins—those small clusters of red, blue or purple veins that appear on the thighs, calves and ankles—become noticeable at a young age. For others, the veins may not become obvious until much later.
Causes of spider veins:
A number of factors may contribute to the development of spider veins in the legs, including:
- Heredity
- Hormonal shifts
- Occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing
- Pregnancy
- Weight fluctuation
What Is Laser Vein Treatment?
Laser treatment for spider veins is a quick, effective and noninvasive procedure that uses a focused beam of light to heat and destroy affected veins. When laser energy is applied to the treatment area, it targets the pigment in the blood and warms the vessel without damaging the skin or surrounding tissues. Over time – usually, in four to six weeks after treatment – the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears. Blood gets rerouted to healthier veins.
How Is Laser Vein Treatment Performed
During laser spider vein treatment, you will be given a pair of goggles that protect your eyes from the intense laser light. Next, we will apply a cooling gel to the area being treated. The laser will be placed against the skin over the spider veins. You may feel some uncomfortable sensations as the laser fires; patients often say it feels like a rubber band snapping against their skin. Ice may be used to increase your comfort during the procedure. Laser vein treatment requires no downtime, though it’s common to experience some inflammation and redness in the treated area, and compression garments should be worn for some time after your appointment.
What Is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive spider vein treatment that works by delivering a sclerosing agent into the troublesome vessel via injection. When injected, the solution irritates the inner lining of the vein, causing it to seal closed. The vessel eventually becomes scar tissue and disappears as the body absorbs it.
How Is Sclerotherapy Performed?
After cleansing the treatment area using an antiseptic solution, your sclerotherapist will use a small needle to inject one of two FDA-approved sclerosing solutions directly into the vessel being treated. Discomfort during the procedure is minimal, and no anesthesia is required. You may feel a slight prick, and a mild burning sensation as the needle is placed, and the solution is injected. After treatment, you may experience short-lived itching, bruising or burning in the treatment area. There is no downtime after sclerotherapy.
Choosing Sclerotherapy vs. Laser Vein Treatment:
If you are unhappy with unsightly spider veins and have researched the pros and cons of sclerotherapy vs. laser therapy, you’re one step closer to making an informed decision about the treatment that is right for you.
Sclerotherapy may be the better choice if you have a low pain threshold or if your skin type is not compatible with the laser used during laser vein therapy. Laser treatment for spider veins may be the preferred option if you have an aversion to needles or the medications used during sclerotherapy, or if the vessels that need treatment are too small to be injected. The best choice of treatment may also depend on the size and location of your veins.
In some cases, combining both spider vein and varicose vein treatment options is the best course of action to eradicate spider veins for good. An integrated treatment plan may be recommended after evaluating the size, location and the number of visible vessels present during a consultation.
What should I expect during a consultation for spider vein treatment?
During your spider vein treatment consultation be prepared to discuss:
Any problems you may have had in the area to be treated, such as pain or previous injuries
Any surgical procedures that have been performed near the area to be treated, including any previous vein treatments
Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
Medical conditions, family history, drug allergies and medical treatments
Your goals
Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
Examine your veins in detail
Discuss likely outcomes of spider vein treatment and any risks or potential complications
Discuss your options
Recommend a course of treatment
If leg veins are the problem, your surgeon may examine you for signs of more serious “deep vein” problems, as well as for larger, varicose veins. These conditions are often identified by swelling, sores or skin changes at the ankle.
If more serious vascular problems are identified, your surgeon may refer you to a different specialist for further evaluation and possible treatment.
What are the risks of spider vein treatment?
The decision to have spider vein treatment is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of spider vein treatment are acceptable.
The risks include:
- Change in skin sensation
- Hyperpigmentation
- Infection
- Persistent pain
- Scarring
- Swelling and bruising
- Crusting
- Ulceration
- Discoloration
- Bleeding
- Pain
How to prepare for the procedure
Before the procedure:
- Avoid sunbathing, tanning beds or waxing for two weeks prior to the procedure.
- Avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements due to increased risk of bleeding.
What should I expect during my spider vein treatment recovery?
- During your recovery from spider vein treatment, you may be instructed to wear support hose to help your legs heal.
- The treated sites will appear bruised and you may feel some cramping in your legs for the first day or two after treatment. This discomfort is temporary and usually doesn’t require prescription medication.
- Although every patient heals at a different rate, most are back to normal activities quickly.
- You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your legs following treatment, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection and when to follow-up with your provider.
- You can expect that your spider vein treatment recovery will follow this general timeline:
Within one week:
- You may be instructed to wear support stockings for three to six weeks
- You should avoid squatting, heavy lifting and running
- The tape, cotton balls or any other dressings (if used) will be removed from the treated areas when recommended by the plastic surgeon
- The treated sites will appear bruised
- You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two
- You will be encouraged to walk
Within one month
- The bruises at the treated sites will diminish
- You will begin to feel more comfortable wearing leg-baring fashions
- You can resume most exercise
One month after the first treatment, spider veins are distinctly lighter, yet still somewhat visible
You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two
After two months, your veins treatment should have completed its healing. At this point, you and your plastic surgeon will decide if any additional treatment is necessary.
What results should I expect after spider vein treatment?
After each spider vein treatment, you will notice improvement of your skin’s appearance. However, it is important to realize that new spider veins may surface in the future.
As time passes, you may want to consider further treatment to take care of any new veins that may emerge.
The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. Be sure to discuss with your provider the results expected in your case, as well as the cost involved.
Contraindications:
Include but are not limited to:
- Pregnancy
- Blood-thinning medication
- Photosensitive or hypertrophic/keloid
- Scarring disorders
- untreated varicose veins
- Recent tanning or dark skin