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Laser Treatment for Spider Veins

Blog Author July 29, 2015
If needles are something you try to avoid, then you might be looking for alternative treatments for your spider veins. The gold standard option for these tiny weblike veins that can ruin a pair of perfect beach legs is sclerotherapy, but it is not the only treatment available. If you want something more high tech and less invasive, then there is a laser answer that can get your legs back to beautiful.

What are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are smaller versions of varicose veins. With varicose veins, blood backs up when the valves built into the walls fail to close properly. Muscle contractions in the vein walls push blood towards the heart. The valves keep blood from moving backwards as the muscles relax. When a person ages, the walls of the veins lose some of their elasticity, so the valves fail to close properly. This allows some blood to trickle backwards. As the blood builds up in one section of the vein, it becomes engorged. This is a varicose vein. Spider veins are tiny engorged veins that sit near the surface of the skin, giving them that web like appearance. They often show up on the legs in conjunction with larger varicose veins, but you can get the anywhere. They are common on the face and arms, as well.

What is Sclerotherapy?

With sclerotherapy, vascular surgeons target spider veins and eliminate them. Small injections are made into the veins. The solution causes the vein walls to swell shut. Once the vein collapses, the body reroutes the blood flow through healthy veins and absorbs the diseased ones.

How Does the Laser Treatment Work?

A laser can cause fine spider veins to collapse from the outside of the body. The heat produced by the laser irritates the wall of the small veins, forcing them to close. As with sclerotherapy, once a vein shuts down, the body finds a way to work around it. The treatment takes just a few minutes and requires no recovery time. There is little to no discomfort, as well. In some cases, vein doctors will apply a topical anesthetic to ensure the patient’s comfort.

Does Laser Treatment Replace Sclerotherapy?

These two procedures are often done together to provide you with the best results. Sclerotherapy is a very effective way to eliminate spider veins, but it can take several treatments. In combination with a laser treatment, the vein clinic can offer a comprehensive solution for improving the look of your skin. There is no reason to live with spider veins again this summer. Through laser and sclerotherapy treatments, you can give your skin a healthier glow free from distracting spider veins.