Spider Vein Treatment Options

Laser Spider Veins

Spider veins are small veins that have a web like appearance. These veins are very superficial and located close to the undersurface of the skin. They can become unsightly and occasionally cause vague discomfort. Spider veins can be caused by prolong standing, pregnancy and also increase with age. There can also be a hereditary component. They occur more commonly in women than men. Their appearance can be blue, red or purple. Spider veins are not to be confused with varicose veins which are much larger.

Spider veins can be treated with sclerotherapy or laser treatments. Sclerotherapy involves injecting the vein with a solution that will cause the vein to disappear over a three to six-week period. Lasers can be used to treat the vein by using light to cause the vein to close. Dr. Hardaway will evaluate your veins and decide which treatment is better for you. Both treatments cause minimal discomfort and downtime.

After your initial consultation appointment, Dr. Hardaway will discuss the parameters behind the procedure and possible preventive measures to minimize recurrence.

Spider Veins

Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are small blue and purple veins in the skin that have a spider web-like appearance. Spider veins are different from varicose veins which are larger veins, located more deeply, that may appear as bumps or lumpy protrusions under the skin, with or without a bluish coloration.

Treatment for Spider Veins

One method for treating spider veins used by Dr. Michelle Hardaway in her Farmington Hills practice is called sclerotherapy. This Injection therapy has been part of the treatment of spider and varicose veins for more than 50 years. The principle of injection is to fill the vein being treated with a solution that will empty the vein of blood and cause the vein wall to become inflamed. As a result, the walls of the vein will sticks together and the vein will become indistinct and no longer visible.

Various chemical substances are utilized in injection treatment of varicose veins. Common among these are sodium tetradecyl sulfate, hypertonic saline, and polidocanol. Dr. Hardaway will determine the most desired solution based on her knowledge of the patients needs. The needles used for injection are extremely small and cause little pain. The pain, if any, lasts only a few seconds. A pressure dressing or graduated support stocking may be applied to the area following injection so that the veins will remain empty of blood.

To adequately treat a spider vein, multiple treatment sessions are usually required. The number of treatments varies based on the severity of the vein problem. Typically, three treatments are required for each spider vein. In each treatment session, as many of the spider veins will be treated as time allows. This is done to minimize the number of treatments required. Following treatment, Dr. Hardaway will indicate the best method for the patient for post treatment activities.

What to expect after Sclerotherapy Treatment?

It should be understood that sclerotherapy is not a miracle cure. Neither injection therapy nor anything else will return the skin of the lower extremities to the way it was as a teenager. Certainly, most of the objectionable veins can be considerably reduced. Nevertheless, small blemishes inevitably remain that are visible to the naked eye.

Because the veins of the lower extremities are under high pressure, there is a tendency for recurrence of spider veins. Either new areas with spider veins may develop or those areas that have been injected may recur at any time. This requires that an individual understand the need to return to our center for re-checks and minor additional treatments on a yearly basis.

Your next steps if you are considering sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is an affordable, effective and safe method of treating these unwanted veins. In many cases, leg veins can also be eliminated.