Spider vein removal
Spider veins, or to give them their medical name – telangiectasias, can best be described as highly visible vessels that typically appear just underneath the skin. You will find that they most commonly develop on either the face or legs. They are very much like varicose veins, except smaller. They usually start off as a blue or red squiggle or capillaries. You are most likely to notice them as red, blue or purple veins that will usually appear on the thighs, calves or ankles. It is now estimated that over 30% of women will be troubled by this problem at some stage in their life. Many people look to treat spider veins because they believe they look ugly, although they are also known to cause certain symptoms which can include aching, itching and cramps. There are typically three different kinds of spider veins:
- They may actually look like a spider, in that there is a central point and then a group of veins that radiate outwards
- The pattern may appear to resemble branches of a tree
- Or you may have a linear pattern that will simply look like thin lines that are separated from each other.
You may develop spider veins for a number of reasons and these include weight gain, pregnancy, hormonal factors, hereditary or perhaps you often partake in an activity or a job that requires you to sit or stand for long periods of time. There are two main forms of treatment for spider veins, and both are able to eventually remove them.
Sclerotherapy is a treatment for spider veins that will involve injecting a solution, using small needles directly into the veins. This will typically cause them to collapse and eventually fade from view. You should find that this form of treatment will not only make the affected areas look far better, but will help with any of the associated symptoms that you may be suffering. However sclerotherapy is often needed more than once to completely remove your spider veins. During the procedure the affected area of the body (usually your leg) should be elevated to drain blood and thus allowing the sclerosant to be injected directly into the spider vein.
This procedure will typically take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and this will very much depend on how many spider veins need to be treated. It is important to understand that this form of treatment may actually be painful and often when the sclerosant is injected, you may feel a burning or cramping sensation for a few minutes. As mentioned, this may not be a one-off treatment and you may require repeated sessions and many more injections. This will depend on exactly how bad your spider veins are and the specific type of sclerosant used.
Laser treatment is another way to remove spider veins. Prior to undergoing laser treatment you will usually have an initial consultation with your doctor. During this consultation the different options that are available will be explained as well as the potential risks and limitations of this procedure. Your doctor should examine the affected area and may even take photos. They will then usually give you instructions to the treat your skin prior to laser treatment.
The procedure will require your doctor to cleanse the affected area to remove any oil that may be on the surface of the skin. They will then produce short, sharp emissions of light directly from the laser. This will be an extremely controlled level of penetration and will aim to remove the superficial blood vessels. Often patients will undergo an initial calibration session. This will involve testing the laser under numerous settings on a small portion of your skin. This is so your doctor can work out exactly the right level of penetration for you. You will usually be asked to return either a few days to a week later to undergo the full laser session. People who have had laser treatment have often commented that they hear zapping noises as well smelling smoke. This is completely normal.
Once the laser treatment has been completed, the affected area will usually be covered with an antibiotic ointment. This is to ensure that no surface bacteria can penetrate the skin. The actual procedure may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and, once again, this will very much depend on the actual size of the area that needs treating. Laser treatment will normally be performed as an outpatient procedure and there will be no need for you to stay in hospital overnight. However it is important to consider that you may require more than one treatment to achieve the desired results. You may experience discomfort or redness and swelling for a few days after laser treatment. The veins will typically turn a purple colour and may actually resemble a bruise. They will then gradually fade away within a period of 7 to 10 days. You should simply use ice packs or frozen aloe vera gel to reduce the swelling.
Comments are closed
Related Information
