Spider veins are like varicose veins, except for smaller ones. These small red, purple, and blue “threadlike” veins are visible on the surface of the skin. They occur on the legs but can also be found on the face. Spider veins vary in size and often look like a spider’s web or a tree branch. Spider veins are purely cosmetic issues and pose no threat to a person’s health. Aside from an unpleasant appearance, they can also cause a variety of symptoms such as itching, burning, heaviness, and cramping. Since they are usually not associated with deeper vein issues, ultrasound tests are not required for routine cases.
Common Risk Factors for Spider Veins
• Heredity – family history of varicose veins
• Gender- Women are at a higher risk than men
• Pregnancy- especially during the late-term
• Obesity
• Excessive standing and sitting
Diagnosing Spider Veins
We will conduct an initial consultation to determine if unsightly veins are spider or varicose veins. In some cases, spider veins could be secondary to varicose veins. During the consultation, we will ask you questions to help determine your vein issues. Spider veins in the leg, hand, and face are caused by unhealthy valves inside feeder veins, allowing blood to flow backward instead of upwards toward the heart. Some of this backed-up blood can lead to non-functional, “dead-end” veins that appear underneath the surface of the skin as spider veins.
Treatment options for Spider Veins
We treat spider veins with sclerotherapy and cutaneous laser treatment. Unfortunately, this is a lifelong battle for most patients. Even after successful treatment, the body tends to continue producing them. For this reason, most patients need intermittent maintenance treatments to keep their legs spider vein free.
Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins and spider veins. Your healthcare provider injects a chemical solution into your vein to close it off. This chemical solution irritates your blood vessel lining, making it expand, stick together, and form a scar. This closes off your vein, making it look and feel better. This in-office treatment works well for many people, especially on smaller varicose veins. Recovery is quick, but it can take weeks or months to see results. The procedure itself is usually done in under one hour.
Advantages of sclerotherapy include:
• No anesthesia. With enough compression from the bandage on the vein, there is little pain. Compression also may help with bruising and swelling.
• Good results for most people. Sclerotherapy works especially well on smaller varicose veins. A session may get rid of an estimated 50% to 80% of injected veins. In about 10% of cases, sclerotherapy doesn’t work. If this happens, your healthcare provider can try different solutions or a different method, such as laser therapy.
• Fairly quick results for small veins. Spider veins usually respond to treatment in three to six weeks, but it may take three to four months for larger veins.
• With successful treatment, varicose veins or spider veins won’t reappear. However, you may need treatment for new varicose veins that form.
Cutaneous Laser Therapy is an effective treatment for Spider Veins. At the Vascular and Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons, we use a cutaneous laser to treat veins in the legs and face. Laser therapy uses a highly concentrated beam of light to heat the vein and close it. This treatment does not cause damage to the skin and requires no downtime.
Advantages of Using Laser Vein Therapy
There are no risks involved with these treatments, whereas methods such as sclerotherapy can cause slight bruising and patients can sometimes react to the saline solution. We find lasers to be a better option on facial spider veins, where the skin is more delicate. Lasers also are faster and more efficient when treating larger groups of spider veins.
Cutaneous Laser Therapy is a very efficient solution to superficial spider veins. This procedure has many benefits including:
• Fast recovery
• Non-surgical
• Quick and effective treatment
• Generally painless
It should be noted that this treatment is effective only for superficial spider veins that appear on the surface of the skin. This treatment does not treat more severe, underlying issues. Be sure to speak with your doctor about all your options.
The Vascular and Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons is one of the first and most respected vein clinics in Southwest Florida. Our surgeons, Dr. Abraham Sadighi and Dr. Johan Escribano have performed thousands of vascular and vein surgeries over the past 28 years. We focus on diseases of the vascular system that can range from harmless but unattractive spider veins to dangerous conditions such as peripheral artery disease. Our caring and dedicated team will help you identify problems and offer the best treatment options for you at any of our three locations.
Call the Vascular & Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons today at (239) 344-7061 to make an appointment with a vascular surgeon who specializes in arteries and veins.
Vascular & Vein Center at Gulfcoast Surgeons
877-LEG-PAIN
gulfcoastsurgeons.com
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Fort Myers, FL 33907
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