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Frequently Asked Questions About Spider Veins and Varicose Veins

1. Why is a medical evaluation important before choosing vein treatments?

2. What are spider veins, and do they cause symptoms?

3. What causes varicose and spider veins?

4. What is the difference between spider veins and varicose veins?

5. What cosmetic treatment options do you offer?

6. Are varicose veins dangerous to my health?

7. What symptoms are associated with varicose veins?

8. What is venous insufficiency?

9. Can varicose veins be removed?

10. Where will the spider vein treatment be performed?

11. Will my veins have to be “stripped”?

12. Are lasers used to remove varicose veins?

13. What is phlebectomy?

14. Will I have to wear medical stockings?

15. Does medical insurance cover vein treatments?

16. How long does treatment take?

17. What are varicose veins?

18. What is Sclerotherapy?

19. What results can be expected?

20. Do spider veins only affect women?

1. Why is a medical evaluation important before choosing vein treatments?
Multiple spider veins or varicose veins may signal underlying venous abnormalities. For long-term, pleasing results, underlying venous disease should be diagnosed and treated.

2. What are spider veins, and do they cause symptoms?
Spider veins are small threadlike veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. They connect to the larger veins but are non-essential. Spider veins are usually not associated with symptoms.

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3. What causes varicose and spider veins?
Heredity is the number one contributing factor causing varicose and spider veins. Women are more likely than men to suffer from abnormal leg veins with up to 50% of American women being affected. Hormonal factors including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, the use of birth control pills, estrogen, and progesterone contribute to this condition. It is very common for pregnant women to develop varicose veins during the first trimester since pregnancy causes increases in hormone levels and blood volume which in turn cause veins to enlarge. In addition, the enlarged uterus causes increased pressure on the veins. Varicose veins due to pregnancy often improve within 3 months after delivery. However, with successive pregnancies, abnormal veins are more likely to remain. Other predisposing factors include aging, standing occupations, obesity and leg injury.

4. What is the difference between spider veins and varicose veins?
The heart pumps blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Arteries carry blood from the heart towards the body parts, while veins carry blood from the body parts back to the heart. As the blood is pumped back to the heart, veins act as one-way valves to prevent the blood from flowing backwards. If the one-way valve becomes weak, some of the blood can leak back into the vein, collect there, and then become congested or clogged. This congestion will cause the vein to abnormally enlarge. These enlarged veins can be either varicose veins or spider veins.

Varicose veins are very swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. They are dark purple or blue in color, and can look like cords or very twisted and bulging. They are found most often on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg, anywhere from the groin to the ankle. During pregnancy, varicose veins called hemorrhoids can form in the vagina or around the anus.

Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they are smaller, are often red or blue in color, and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. They can look like a tree branch or spider web with their short jagged lines. Spider veins can be found on both the legs and the face. They can cover either a very small or very large area of skin.

5. What cosmetic treatment options do you offer for spider veins?
Sclerotherapy is the "gold standard" in cosmetic treatment of spider veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosing agent (like saline) into the vein. When this causes the blood to displace, the vessel begins to close. Several treatments are often required.

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6. Are varicose veins dangerous to my health?
Although many people with varicose veins complain of discomfort, these symptoms usually are not harmful to your health.

 
7. What symptoms are associated with varicose veins?
Leg discomfort, aching, swelling, tingling and numbness, night cramps, and restlessness are common symptoms associated with varicose veins. Varicose veins can also become red, hot, and swollen, a condition known as phlebitis. Rarely, varicose veins close to the surface of the skin can break and cause bleeding.

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8. What is venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition where the valves in the leg veins do not work resulting in incompetence and reflux. Common symptoms include leg swelling, discomfort, aching, brownish discoloration and itchiness. If left untreated, venous insufficiency may lead to skin break down and ulcers.

9. Can varicose veins be removed?
Yes, varicose veins can be removed but often require a minor surgical procedure.

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10. Where will the spider vein treatment be performed?

Sclerotherapy of spider veins is a relatively simple procedure that requires no anesthesia, so it will be performed in an outpatient setting, most likely your doctor's office.

11. Will my varicose or spider veins have to be “stripped”?
A traditional vein surgery, “stripping” involves removing a portion of diseased vein that runs up the inner portion of the leg (saphenous vein), thereby closing off the main source of the blood flow to varicose vein branches. By removing or closing off blood flow to varicose veins, additional procedures will be more effective. Although “ligation” and/or “stripping” of the saphenous vein are the traditional methods for removing the diseased vein from circulation, newer, less-invasive techniques such as endovenous laser ablation are also an option.

12. Are lasers used to remove varicose veins?
Several types of laser devices are available for laser treatment of varicose or spider veins. Venacure® venous laser therapy is a new, less-invasive technique used to close off blood flow in the saphenous vein and may replace the need for “stripping.” Additional procedures may be needed to remove large vein clusters.

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13. What is phlebectomy?
A phlebectomy involves the removal of a varicose vein through micro-incisions . This technique may be used to remove a single vein or isolated vein clusters and is performed using a local anesthetic, resulting in little to no scarring.

14. Will I have to wear medical stockings?
Graduated compression stockings are an important part of both cosmetic and medical treatment. They are available in several styles and colors. Your particular evaluation and treatment will determine how long you need to wear them.

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16. How long does spider vein treatment take?
Treatment times are brief, and our clinic is easy to access. Most cosmetic procedures require less than one hour in a clinic setting. Surgical procedures require more operative and recovery time but generally can be performed on an outpatient basis.

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17. What are varicose veins?
While arteries carry blood away from the heart to the extremities, veins, which have one-way valves, channel blood back to the heart. If the valves don't function well, blood doesn't flow efficiently causing the veins to become enlarged because they are congested with blood. These enlarged veins are commonly called spider veins or varicose veins. Spider veins are small red, blue or purple veins on the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are larger distended veins that are located somewhat deeper than spider veins.

Pain in the legs is frequently related to abnormal leg veins, varicose veins or spider veins. The symptoms are often made worse by prolonged standing and include feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping, and restlessness of the legs. Leg swelling can also occur. Severe varicose veins can compromise the nutrition of the skin and lead to eczema, inflammation or even ulceration of the lower leg.

Vein disorders are not always visible; therefore diagnostic techniques are important tools in determining the cause and severity of the problem. In addition to a physical examination, non-invasive ultrasound is often used.

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18. What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy can be used to treat both varicose and spider veins successfully. A tiny needle is used to inject the veins with a medication that irritates the lining of the vein. In response, the veins collapse and are reabsorbed, making the surface veins appear less visible. Very little discomfort is experienced during treatment. With sclerotherapy, veins can be treated at an early stage, helping to prevent complications resulting from non-treatment.

You may need anywhere from one to several sclerotherapy sessions for any vein region. Depending on the type and number of veins being treated you may have one to many injections per session. Generally, normal activities can be resumed after treatment, however medically prescribed support hose will need to be worn for several days to several weeks after treatment to assist in the resolution of the veins. Sometimes bruising and pigmentation may occur after sclerotherapy but typically resolves within 1-2 weeks. Although pigmentation almost always fades, it can last for several months. Ulcerations and other complications are rare.

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19. What results can be expected from spider vein and varicose vein treatments?
With the evaluation and treatment methods available today, spider and varicose veins can be treated at a level of effectiveness and safety previously unattainable. Regardless of which treatment method is used, its success depends in part on careful assessment of the problem by a knowledgeable doctor as well as by your compliance in following post-procedure instructions.

20. Do spider veins only affect women?

Spider veins in men aren't nearly as common as they are in women. Men who do have spider veins often don't consider them to be a cosmetic problem because the veins are usually concealed by hair growth on the leg. However, sclerotherapy is just as effective for men who seek treatment.

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