| What
are spider and varicose veins?
Spider veins and varicose veins are often lumped
together, but they are actually very different
conditions. Varicose veins are caused by faulty
valves in the venous system, creating twisted and
swollen veins. Varicose veins are larger, darker
and tend to bulge with a rope-like texture on the
skin's surface. Varicose veins are also more
likely to cause pain and be related to more
serious vein disorders.
In
contrast, spider veins are smaller and closer to
the skin's surface in a branch-like or linear
formation. Treatment of varicose veins is
generally considered outside the realm of cosmetic
surgery and patients are often referred to a
vascular surgeon.
Millions of men
and women are bothered by spider veins-those
small, unsightly clusters of red, blue, or purple veins that
usually appear on the thighs, calves and ankles and
occasionally on the face. An estimated fifty percent of the
adult female population and fifteen to twenty percent of men
share this cosmetic problem.
Spider veins are
small, thin capillaries that lie close to the surface of the
skin. They are connected to a larger venous system, though
they are not an essential part of it since they do not
actually carry blood to the heart.
Many factors can
contribute to the development of spider veins, including:
pregnancy, weight gain, chronic sun exposure, activities that
demand prolonged standing or sitting, heredity and certain
medications, such as birth control pills or hormone
replacement medication.
Spider veins form
when excess blood backs up in the blood stream. The excess
blood creates pressure. The body releases the pressure by
creating new veins on the skin's surface. The primary problem
with spider veins is their unsightly appearance, but they can
also cause aching, swelling, burning and night cramps in legs.
What is
Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy
treatment is fairly simple: The skin around the spider veins
is cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Then the doctor pulls
the skin tight around the spider vein area while injecting a
chemical solution into the vein. Skinovative Laser Center is
pleased to offer the only FDA-approved sclerosing agent
available in the US, a solution called Sotradecol. Sotradecol
causes inflammation, which stops the blood flow within the
veins. When blood stops flowing, the veins collapse. The
collapsed vein wall seals itself and the vein is absorbed back
into the surrounding tissue.
Sclerotherapy
requires no anesthetic; pain is minimal due to the thin needle
used and the mild sclerosing solution. The procedure takes
fifteen minutes to an hour or more, depending on the number
and size of the spider veins being treated. Anywhere from five
to forty injections are given per treatment session, and it
may take two to four sessions to rid the area of spider
veins—especially for patients with more extensive spider vein
conditions.
Will
Sclerotherapy work on my veins?
The majority of
persons who have completed their treatment with sclerothrapy
alone or in combination with surgery will see good to
excellent improvement in their vein problems. Unfortunately,
however, there is no guarantee that sclerotherapy will be
effective in every case. Approximately 10 percent of patients
who undergo sclerotherapy have results that range from poor to
fair with no vein disappearance after a few treatments.
What should I
expect after treatment?
Following the
injections, the treated area is wrapped in a compressed
bandage or stocking, and the patient is sent home. The bandage
can be removed after five days. There may be slight itching
for a day or two after the treatment owing to a mild release
of histamine from the treated blood vessels.
How many
treatments will I need?
The number of
treatments needed to clear or improve the condition differs
from patient to patient, depending on the extent of varicose
and spider veins present. One to six treatments may be needed;
the average is two to four. |
