Spider veins are unsightly veins located just under the skin. Unlike varicose veins, which bulge, spider veins are primarily a cosmetic problem. They typically appear as a tree or spiderweb-like patterns. Spider veins are created when blood pools in the veins, and are typically blue or red in color.
There are several possible causes for spider veins, but they are also more likely to be present as we age. Spider veins can be effectively treated using lasers, or by sclerotherapy.
Laser Treatments
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Lasers are used to focus high levels of energy into the veins, causing the blood inside to coagulate and damaging the spider vein itself, after which the vein will be gradually absorbed by the body. The laser treatment must be carefully supervised to avoid damaging the skin and tissue that surrounds the spider vein; laser treatments are also only effective on small and sparse veins that are located close to the skin’s surface.
Sclerotherapy Treatments
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical solution directly into the individual spider veins being treated. The chemical solution irritates and dehydrates the spider vein, causing it to atrophy and ultimately become absorbed by the body. The chemical reaction is fast and efficient, and the needles used are extremely small, and thus unlikely to cause any significant pain or discomfort.
Comparing Techniques
The primary advantages of sclerotherapy over laser treatments are that treated veins can be both larger, and located further beneath the skin. This allows sclerotherapy to also be used when spider veins are associated with larger varicose veins. The sclerotherapy treatment also provides more rapid results – spider veins will become less visible as soon as they have been treated.
There is also a difference in the number of sessions that are typically required to resolve the problem – several laser treatments may be required before spider veins are eliminated, while one or two sclerotherapy sessions are normally enough to achieve the same or better results.
Patients typically report less pain or discomfort from sclerotherapy than with laser treatments. There are occasional side effects associated with both techniques, but these are typically mild and short-lived.
Possibly the only situation when laser treatments might be preferable is for patients who are especially intolerant of needles, or for the extremely rare case of allergic reaction to the chemicals used in sclerotherapy.
Your Laser Skin Care
Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and experienced in providing both laser vein therapy and sclerotherapy. We can provide expert advice on the best technique to address your particular situation. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
