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Vein Treatments

What Are Spider And Varicose Veins?

They are abnormal veins that occur in millions of adults and affect the legs' appearance and function. The cause is mostly hereditary but contributing factors are pregnancy and hormonal changes. Varicose veins can be a health hazard and many workdays are lost due to their complications.

Spider Veins, or telangiectasias, are formed by the dilation of small blood vessels in the skin. Although spider veins can occur anywhere on the body, they are most frequent on the lower limbs and present as red or purple net patterns. They are not a health risk and most patients seek treatment for reasons of appearance.

Varicose Veins Varicose veins are large blue blood vessels that result from dilation of the vein wall or leakage of valves within the veins. The varices are in the fatty layer deep to the skin and can result in ankle swelling. Also varicose veins may produce aching pain or a feeling of heaviness in the legs.

Neglected varicose veins may cause:

1. Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein causing local pain and tenderness.
2. Thromboses are blood clots in the enlarged vein and cause painful swelling of the leg.
3. Venous Stasis Ulcers result when the leaking vein fails to remove sufficient fluid from the skin and underlying muscles. The layers as a result, receive insufficient oxygen, the skin breaks down and an ulcer forms.
4. Spontaneous bleeding can occur from a protruding thin walled varicose vein. The bleeding can be controlled by pressure and temporarily by elevating the limb.

Treatment

First, your medical history is reviewed to determine how long the vein problem has been present and the degree of severity. In addition, we need to know if the vein problem is aggravated by physical activity and if there has been previous treatment. Surgery for varicose veins is rarely necessary. Treatment is by injection and is called sclerotherapy. Its purpose is to eradicate the abnormal veins whose function is quickly assumed by healthy veins in the same area.

Conversely spider veins contain but a few drops of blood and affect only the appearance of the legs. Consequently the obliteration of spiders by sclerotherapy requires no rerouting of circulation as with varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy Is an effective treatment performed by a dermatologic surgeon as an office procedure. There is little discomfort. Using a small needle, sclerosing solution is inserted into the spider or varicose vein. The injected solution closes the abnormal vein that is eventually absorbed by the body.

Sclerotherapy may involve numerous treatment sessions depending on the extent of spider or varicose veins. Disappearance of spider veins requires 6-8 weeks but other affected areas may be sclerosed during the period of waiting. Patience is required.

Following sclerotherapy over 80% of the treated vessels are permanently cured. Additional treatments will be required if new veins arise.

Treatments are usually at 2 week intervals, each requiring about one half hour.

You must wear a compression bandage or support hose for six days following treatment. Moderate exercise that includes walking begins the day of treatment and will speed recovery.

Recovery Following Treatment

Most patients have few, if any side effects from sclerotherapy. Temporary effects can include slight swelling of the leg or thigh, minor bruising, redness, or mild regional tenderness. Bruising, if it occurs, usually disappears after a few weeks. Brownish staining in the skin overlying the treated veins may persist for several months particularly when large vessels are treated. These are not a cause for concern.