All puns aside, spider veins are unsightly and can have a substantially negative effect on your life. If you are hesitant to wear shorts, skirts, bathing suits, or sandals due to the webbed networks of red, purple, or blue lines that typically occur on the feet and legs, know that you do not have to suffer. At Advanced Vein Therapy, we can help you look and feel your best by eliminating your spider veins through a relatively painless and minimally invasive treatment known as sclerotherapy. Take the time now to learn more about spider veins, your treatment options, and what you can expect as a patient.
Are Spider Veins Dangerous?
Spider veins are a mainly cosmetic condition that results in branch-like veins that appear just below the skin’s surface. Unlike varicose veins, which are the larger, twisted blue veins that pose a risk for serious health conditions such as blood clots, skin ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), spider veins are generally not dangerous, according to the Mayo Clinic.
While spider veins can result from venous insufficiency, which is often attributed to leaky or damaged valves within the veins that cause blood to pool and restrict it from reaching the heart and other areas of the body, they do not always turn into varicose veins and can often be attributed to hereditary factors or other reasons. Women and older adults are typically at an increased risk for spider veins, which can appear on the face as well as in the lower extremities. Others who may face an increased risk for spider veins include:
- Pregnant women.
- Those who stand on their feet for long periods of time, such as nurses and teachers.
- People who sit for long periods, such as office workers, or who otherwise live a sedentary lifestyle.
- Those suffering from chronic weight gain and obesity.
While spider veins do not generally jeopardize your physical health, they can impact your emotional well-being. They can diminish your overall self-esteem, limit your clothing choices, and keep you from engaging activities that you love.
Is Spider Vein Removal Permanent?
At AVT, our spider vein specialists rely on sclerotherapy as a way to remove spider veins. It is a safe, relatively painless, and minimally invasive treatment that is proven highly effective in treating spider veins, leaving you with more youthful and healthier looking skin. This form of treatment involves injecting the vein with a foamy, sterile solution that causes the spider vein to shrink. Once the vein closes, the blood traveling through is then rerouted, and the appearance of the spider vein is diminished.
Since spider veins result from a hereditary condition or due to lifestyle factors, you may suffer a recurrence after treatment. However, many patients enjoy spider vein-free legs for years before any new ones appear.
How Long Does it Take for Spider Veins to Disappear after Treatment?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises that sclerotherapy is the most effective way of treating spider veins. The treatment itself generally takes only 30 to 60 minutes, and you will be able to walk out of our office and resume your normal activities the same day. Immediately following treatment, expect some bumps and redness in your legs. This should last approximately two to four hours following the treatment. Provided you follow all of your doctor’s instructions regarding aftercare, all redness should subside within a few days.
After sclerotherapy, spider veins will generally fade throughout the next two to six weeks. At first, they will fade to a light red color, and within several months they should disappear completely. Depending on the number and size of your spider veins, you may need to undergo two or more sclerotherapy treatments to eliminate them. These treatments should generally occur four to six weeks apart from each other. Your vein specialist will be able to accurately tell you how many treatments you are likely to require during your initial consultation.
Make Spider Veins a Thing of the Past with a Boise, Vein Specialist
Our team of spider vein specialists at Advanced Vein Therapy is here to help you live a fuller, freer life by treating your spider veins. Contact our office today to set up your initial consultation with a member of our team. During your consultation, we will answer all of your questions and go over your treatment options and what you can expect before, during, and after the treatment.