PROCEDURES
SPIDER AND VARICOSE VEIN REMOVAL
Legs you can love
Make living with unsightly veins a thing of the past! Find out how sclerotherapy and laser treatment of spider veins can improve your appearance and boost your self-confidence.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment can eliminate a vein’s appearance by a thermal or “warming process”. Brief, intense emissions of light from the laser are used to remove the superficial blood vessels at precisely controlled levels of penetration. You may feel a slight burning or stinging sensation as the laser penetrates your skin, but discomfort is minimal and no anesthesia is required. Afterward, the treated area will be covered with an antibiotic ointment to eliminate any surface bacteria. The amount of treatment time varies from fifteen minutes to one hour, depending on the size of the area being treated, as well as the severity of the problem. After treatment, the unsightly veins are significantly diminished and the skin is returned to a more natural, uniform state.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the introduction of a sclerosing or hardering agent injected into a vein using a small needle. Your doctor will apply antiseptic to the area, then inject a solution into the affected veins. During the procedure, you may feel a slight prick as the needle is inserted and a burning sensation as the solution is injected. Each injection covers about one inch of the vein. The solution replaces the blood and naturally causes the vein to decompose and disappear. A cotton dressing and compression tape will be applied to the area treated. After one area is injected and taped, the doctor will proceed to the next area. Generally, a second treatment will be required in order to complete the collapse of the entire vein. If you have several veins requiring treatment, multiple sessions may be recommended. Each treatment is usually limited to one hour per session.
Does Sclerotherapy work for everyone?
The majority of people who have sclerotherapy have successful results. Only about 10% of veins treated persist after multiple treatments.
Will I see immediate results?
Recovery times depend on the extent of the treatment and the individual’s capacity to heal. It is advised that exercise and prolonged standing should be avoided for up to 48 hours following the procedure. To aid healing, your doctor may recommend support hose or wrap the treated area. Some redness or purple discoloration may persist for several weeks. The redness will gradually lighten to a pink tone, and then to a lighter, more natural color. Fading is gradual, usually over several months, with complete dissipation likely in most cases.
Will treated veins recur?
Although laser removal may not erase all imperfections in the skin and unsightly veins may recur, most patients are satisfied with the outcome.
Which method of removal is best for me?
When the veins are small and close to the skin’s surface, such as facial veins, laser removal is often the most effective treatment. Deeper, thicker veins in other areas of the body usually require sclerotherapy. Occasionally, your doctor may use both for optimal results.
How many treatments will be required?
The number of treatments will vary for each person, depending on the size of the vein and number of veins involved. For sclerotherapy patients, several veins can be injected at each session and the average patient undergoes 3-4 treatments. For laser patients, more than one treatment may be needed to achieve desired results.
Millions of people are bothered by spider veins and varicose veins. They are small, unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple veins that most commonly appear on the face, thighs, calves and ankles. Caused by abnormal blood flow and weakening blood vessels, these veins can materialize as a result of prolonged standing, heredity, pregnancy, hormones, blood clots, weight gain and lack of exercise.
While unsightliness is the most common reason for removal, spider and varicose veins may also be removed to alleviate problems with restless legs, aching, burning, and/or cramps. The veins are most often treated with sclerotherapy, a procedure in which a saline or chemical solution is injected into the vein, irritating the lining and causing the vein to collapse and disappear. Laser treatment is another popular method of making unpleasant veins disappear, and often the two treatment types are used together to achieve optimal results.