Varicose veins are abnormally stretched or swollen veins that protrude from the surface of the skin in a rope-like manner. Generally found on the legs, varicose veins are the result of faulty vein valves or weak vein walls.

Spider veins, or broken capillaries, are medically referred to as telangiectasias. They are dilated capillary veins less than 2mm in diameter that exist just below the surface of the skin on the legs or face. Spider veins are blue, red, or purplish in color with a web-like or linear appearance.

What Happens

Leg vein problems begin when the vein valves that prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction (reflux) become weak or malfunction. This causes blood to pool in the veins, forcing them to protrude from the skin becoming tortuous or rope-like and varicose. This increased venous pressure can lead to further failure of other vein valves and to the development of varicose veins.

In addition to being unsightly and even embarrassing, varicose veins and spider veins can cause varying degrees of discomfort, including:

  • swelling
  • throbbing
  • heaviness
  • achiness
  • leg cramps

Varicose veins are a progressive disease that can eventually lead to ankle swelling, pigmentation, ulceration, bleeding, and advanced Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). It is important to seek medical treatment early in order to stop the natural progression of this disease, and reduce symptoms to achieve the best possible cosmetic results.

Spider veins often occur in conjunction with varicose veins due to increased venous pressure. They also develop on their own due to an increased number of shunts, or microscopic short-cuts, connecting the venous and arterial systems.

Causes

While no one knows what causes varicose and spider veins, we do know that a number of factors can increase the likelihood of developing leg vein problems. We also know that the primary factor contributing to the development of varicose and spider veins is heredity, or the genetic predisposition to weak vein walls and vein valves resulting in leg vein problems.

There are also a number of lifestyle variables known to accelerate and aggravate the development of varicose or spider veins:

  • pregnancy
  • birth control pills
  • hormone replacement therapies
  • lack of exercise
  • prolonged sitting or standing
  • obesity
  • constipation
  • aging

Before Laser Vein Treatment

After Laser Vein Treatment

Procedure

The techniques most used to treat leg veins are Laser and/or Sclerotherapy. Both are relatively simple procedures that have great success in removing small to medium sized veins.

Laser is fast becoming the preferred treatment for spider veins on the legs too small to warrant sclerotherapy. Laser treatments are constantly evolving with faster and safer results. It sends a pulse of high energy Laser Light — destroying the vein — without damaging the surrounding skin. During the treatment, you will feel a slight pinching or burning sensation as the light energy touches your skin. The blood vessels in the spider vein absorb the light energy, which causes the vein to coagulate, collapse, and in time disappear.

The amount of time required to perform Laser Therapy depends upon the number and length of the spider veins. The standard Laser procedure can take fifteen minutes to an hour. The severity of spider veins also determines how many laser treatments you will need. Laser therapy can also be used in conjunction with sclerotherapy to treat the larger veins which feed the smaller spider veins.

Sclerotherapy (Medium Sized Blue Leg Veins)

Sclerotherapy is the procedure most often used for removing spider veins. The process is fairly simple: The skin around the spider veins is cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Then the skin is pulled tight around the spider vein area while injecting a saltwater solution called a sclerosing agent into the vein. The injected solution 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.

Before Sclerotherapy Treatment After Sclerotherapy Treatment

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 twenty 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.

Following the injections, the treated area is bandaged and covered with a compression 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.