Treatment Options for Unsightly Veins
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Varicose veins are large, raised, swollen blood vessels that twist and turn. They usually develop in the legs and can be seen through the skin. Spider veins are smaller, red, purple, and blue vessels that also twist and turn and can be seen through the skin. They are also most often seen on the legs and face. Many people find them to be unsightly, but there are multiple treatment options.
- Support Stockings. The most basic approach is simply to wear properly-fitting support hose, especially when the veins cause painful or uncomfortable symptoms. These stockings can generally be purchased at a medical supply store and at some pharmacies.
- Sclerotherapy. This procedure uses a highly concentrated saline solution or a specially made detergent that is injected directly into the vein, causing the vein to disappear gradually over three to six weeks.
- Endovenous Laser Treatment. This is a procedure in which a small laser fiber is inserted into the vein. Pulses of laser light are delivered inside the vein, which causes the vein to collapse. The procedure is done as an outpatient under local anesthesia.
- Surgery. Surgical techniques to treat varicose veins include ligation (tying off of a vein) and stripping (removal of a long segment of vein). Another procedure, ambulatory phlebectomy, allows for the removal of large surface veins through very small incisions that do not need stitches. Surgery may be performed using local, spinal, or general anesthesia.
- Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light. Surface laser or intense pulsed light treatments, such as Vasculight and PhotoDerm, are other options. These devices use heat energy to selectively damage or destroy abnormal veins. An advantage of these treatments is that no needles or sclerosing solutions are required; however, there may be some minor discomfort. In addition, side effects can occur, including discoloration or staining and blister formation.
If you have spider veins or varicose veins and are interested in treatment options, the physicians at Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists would be happy to meet with you. Contact their offices in New York, New Jersey, or Boca Raton today.