What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins form when blood pools in small veins near the skin’s surface due to damaged or weakened valves. These valves are responsible for ensuring blood flows in the correct direction, but when they fail, the veins dilate and become visible, creating spider veins. Commonly found on the legs, spider veins can affect both men and women, though they are more frequent in women. In addition to the legs, spider veins may also appear on the cheeks and nose, often due to aging or sun exposure.
Evaluation of Spider Veins
To the untrained eye, spider veins may all appear similar. For most patients, spider veins are a cosmetic concern. However, in some cases, they serve as an early indicator of an underlying circulation issue known as Venous Insufficiency. In these instances, spider veins are only a surface-level symptom of a more complex problem. Venous insufficiency can lead to leg pain, swelling, fatigue, itchy skin, bulging varicose veins, and persistent spider veins. If spider veins linked to venous insufficiency are not properly diagnosed and treated, the cosmetic veins may reappear, often accompanied by complications.
Accurate diagnosis of spider veins is a critical and often challenging task, even for medical professionals. With over 45 years of combined experience, the team at Siragusa Vein and Laser has perfected the process of identifying and treating different types of spider veins. In some cases, spider veins are caused by an underlying “feeder vein” that is not functioning properly. These feeder veins lie beneath the skin and cannot be seen with the naked eye. If they are not treated, the spider veins are likely to reappear.
To address this, we use advanced technology such as the VeinViewer™, which allows us to precisely identify feeder veins linked to the spider veins being treated. This cutting-edge approach, combined with our extensive experience and industry-leading practices, ensures patients receive the most effective treatment in a comfortable and professional setting. With Siragusa Vein and Laser, you can trust that your legs are in expert hands.
Spider Veins Treatment And What To Expect
Once a patient has been determined to be a good candidate for treatment, spider veins are treated with a quick and painless procedure known as sclerotherapy. This is a fifteen-minute procedure, which is performed by injecting a small amount of medication into the spider vein, causing it to shrink and collapse. As the vein shrinks, the blood that has been pooling in the spider vein is forced into healthy veins. The treated vein will then begin to heal and then naturally turn into collagen that is absorbed into the body. Patients generally require two of these sclerotherapy treatments to completely clear affected areas and can return to work or daily activity immediately following treatment.
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Take The First Step
If you are ready to stop hiding your legs and dealing with the embarrassment of spider veins, let Dr. Siragusa and his team get you back to loving your legs and living your life.