Varicose veins and spider veins appear as swollen, colored, twisted veins that appear mostly on the legs. They are usually purple and reddish in color. Spider veins lie under the surface of the skin, while varicose veins will raise the skin where they are and break the surface, showing under tight-fitting clothing, for example.
Varicose veins in a late stage can be a health concern that needs to be addressed, but spider veins, on the other hand, are not dangerous and often go unnoticed by patients for a long time before they are found and addressed. Treating spider veins is possible with many minimally, and non-invasive procedures like laser, but is not medically necessary in most cases and falls under the cosmetic vein treatment category.
Should I be worried about spider veins?
Spider veins don’t generally lead to any more serious health concerns or issues. They don’t require treatment in most cases but can be treated if their appearance is bothersome to you and affects your self-esteem.
What are spider veins a symptom of?
Chronic venous insufficiency is often a base reason for the development of spider veins as well as varicose veins. They are not directly harmful but could be a warning sign of unhealthy veins and future issues that could arise.
Spider vein treatment options
Suppose you are dealing with the unsightly appearance of spider veins. In that case, fortunately, many treatment options available today are non-invasive and require virtually no downtime if the proper aftercare instructions are followed.
Laser treatment and sclerotherapy are two of these minimally-invasive solutions. Both are effective and appropriate treatments that reduce the appearance of spider veins.
Laser treatment
During laser treatment for spider veins, laser light is directed at the vein, which can destroy it without causing damage to the skin. Small spider veins often disappear entirely and immediately after treatment. Most spider veins will gradually change in color from blue to a lighter shade of red and then eventually disappear, usually in two to six weeks. Laser treatment for spider veins is not just effective but virtually painless, as well.
How many laser treatments are needed for spider veins?
Under most conditions, patients can reduce the appearance of their spider veins within four or fewer laser treatments. It varies based on the patient.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a treatment used to eliminate spider and varicose veins. It’s an injection-based treatment into the vein, causing it to eventually collapse and disappear from view. It’s a proven and effective treatment that has been used for almost 100 years.
How many sclerotherapy sessions are needed for spider veins?
For most patients, sclerotherapy takes about four treatments to treat spider veins effectively, eliminating them from view completely, over time, in most cases.
Spider vein treatment in Columbus
If you’re interested in learning more about how spider veins can be treated quickly, non-invasively, and with minimal downtime, get in touch with us today. We can put together a treatment place for you to eventually fade spider veins from view entirely and return you to a normal, healthy image.
