Preparing for Spider Vein Treatment

People dont realize the effect of something unless they are able to experience pain eventually. This is the most usual case that people who are suffering from spider veins. Before, they use to neglect it believing that it wouldnt really affect them in the future. But feeling pain and discomfort now makes them realize that if they have paid attention to it early on, they would not have to undergo an expensive spider vein treatment.

Getting ready for the treatment

Experts say that the most common form of spider vein treatment is through “sclerotherapy.” This involves a combination of laser treatment and injections, which are done, in a series that intends to collapse the vein affected. People who are planning to undergo a spider vein treatment must be very careful before finally deciding because this will ensure the success of the procedure.

Experts say that getting ready for the spider vein treatment is the first way to really cope up with it. This is because it indicates that the person is already ready to face the problem and do something about it. If you want to be prepared before any spider vein treatment, make sure that you:

1. Have conducted research about the procedure. This is a very important thing that you should do because by doing this, you will have an idea what is the treatment options you have, alternative treatments options if you dont prefer sclerotherapy, what are the qualities of the doctor to look for to ensure that you will be safe during and after the procedure, and the possible side effects of the treatment that you have chosen.

Research can be done by surfing the Internet and looking for sites that offer information on the topic, reading materials such as magazines and books that talk about spider vein treatment and by asking a person who have through the procedure how what the treatment before you finally get into it.

2. Have checked if you or your family has a history of other diseases such as perioral herpes. This is because therapy such as prophylactic antiviral therapy is required to be administered to ensure that there will be no more complications.

3. Have prepared comfortable clothing before the treatment. Since it can be painful, patients who are planning to undergo a spider vein treatment must ensure that enough pieces of comfortable clothing is at hand so he or she can recover fast.

4. Have practiced not to eat at certain periods. Before, during, and after the spider vein treatment, eating is strictly prohibited to ensure that he or she will not vomit when the solution takes effect.

5. Have earned enough money for the spider vein treatment. Two of the most common spider vein treatment options that many physicians administer include the “sclerotherapy” and the “laser therapy”. These two uses modern processes as well as modern equipment so expect that you will be paying more than what you have expected from the normal skin procedures. To make sure that you can shoulder the expenses, it is best to prepare for at lest $10, 000 because the price of each session ranges from $200 and $400.

When it comes to laser treatment, prepare at least $15,000 because each session would cost you from $350 to 450. If your case is more severe, it is get an estimate from the physician who will administer the procedure so you can prepare for the cost of the procedure.

The Two Types of Spider Vein Treatment

Spider veins are not nice to look at regardless of where they may be in the body. It can happen on the face but this usually appears on the legs. Fortunately, this can be remedied and people have to choose from two types of spider vein treatment.

The first is called sclerotherapy also known as spider vein injection. Here, the doctor will inject a scleroic agent into you the affected vein which is designed to make them contract and collapse.

This is done when the patient has medium to large spider veins. It is a painless procedure which is why anesthesia is not given. It is over within 15 to 45 minutes and you will have to go back for two or six more sessions to see its full effect.

Sclerotherapy was first used in Europe and then now being used by doctors in the US. This should only be done by a certified doctor to avoid complications.

The second type of spider vein treatment is laser. Here, the doctor will aim the beam over the spider veins so this will coagulate and shrink. This is very effective when the patient has small and medium sized spider veins.

Patients who decide to use laser surgery should know that you will feel a little pain when the procedure is being performed. Despite that, you dont need to be given any local anesthetic, pain medication or sedative.

In both types, you should expect the spider veins in the skin to get darker and become more visible. Within 2 weeks to a month and a half, this should already start to fade so it is slowly improving.

Some patients who have small, medium and large spider veins have to use combination therapy which consist of sclerotherapy and laser which will greatly reduce the cost for laser treatment.

The cost of sclerotherapy and laser treatment are not that far apart. A session of sclerotherapy may cost between $100 and $400 per session while laser treatment could cost $300-450 per session. But you have to remember that this could go higher depending on the number of veins that have to be treated, the doctor who is performing the procedure and where you are having this done. Doctors who have their own clinic can do it right there instead of having this done in the hospital.

The two types of spider vein treatment have similarities and differences. One cannot be substituted with the other because one type is designed to help patients who have small to medium spider veins while the other is to help treat those who have medium to large spider veins.

Which one will be performed on you will depend on the assessment of your doctor. To help with the cost of this procedure, you should see if your insurance provider will be able to cover it. You should know right now that many insurance companies do not shoulder this expense because their argument is that this is a cosmetic procedure.

While this is true, you can with the help of your doctor argue that you need one of the two types of spider vein treatment for medical reasons. Just remember that this should be backed up by pictures and documents so there is a big chance that your request for this procedure is approved.

The Side Effects of Spider Vein Treatment

More and more people who are suffering from spider vein are now considering getting spider vein treatment for two reasons. The first reason is for them to look good and the other one is to maintain their health.

Experts say that there is a steady demand for spider vein treatment options because many people would want to get rid of the ugly lines on their legs as well on their faces. They believe that once these unsightly veins are removed, they can gain more self-confidence because they can now get their positive outlook in life from their fairer appearance.

The demand has also been increasing because many people have now realized the importance of their health in their lives. Many people who are suffering from spider vein treatment believe that these veins can cause them more complicated diseases and illnesses in the future so they would want to get rid of it as early as possible. Removal of these veins cannot only make people feel good about themselves but can also spare them from pain that is brought by this condition.

However, people are not paying attention to the possible side effects of the most common spider vein treatment options available today which is sclerotherapy.

Side effects of sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the process of removing spider veins using a series of medicinal injections which contain saline and other solutions to collapse the damaged nerve wall and allow the system to reabsorb it. This is the most common procedure used by many physicians because it is convenient and less cheaper compared to other spider vein treatment options. The side effects of this procedure are considered minimal and short-lived while the permanent side effects are really rare.

The following are some of the side effects of the sclerotherapy procedure. Before undergoing this procedure, make sure that you have already discussed what to expect with you physician so you will know how to cope with it.

1. Pain or stinging at the site where the needle has been pricked. Usually, after the injection, the patient must expect that his or her ankles or feet will be swollen and his or her muscles are experiencing cramps. But, this should not be a big deal because the sting or pain is expected to disappear about 15 minutes after the injection.

2. Raised red dots present on the injection sites. These are medium sites red dots that are visible especially to those with fair complexion. These dots are expected to disappear in two days if the procedure has been administered correctly.

3. Small blood clot or hematoma. These refer to clots of blood that develop at the injected vein. These small blood clots will cause tenderness that will last in a week’s time.

4. Visible brown lines or dark spots on the site of injection. This is the result of blood that has escaped in the veins that have been injected or treated veins. People who have larger veins are prone to this but they should not worry too much because it can disappear when the year ends.

5. Inflamed blood vessels. This is one of the most common side effects with this spider vein. This is usually treated using with heating pad, oral aspirin or other antibiotics.

Pregnant women are not advised to undergo this type of spider vein treatment because the saline injectionswhich are known to contain large amounts of saltcan lead to high blood pressure as well to congestive heart failure.

Spider Vein Treatments

Spider veins are more common to women than men and since they are more concerned about how their legs look, it is important to know what spider vein treatments are available.

The most popular one is scelotherapy. Here, the doctor will inject a solution to the veins which is designed to make the spider vein disappear within a few weeks or months. You have to go back for two to six sessions to make them go away and this is usually done in an outpatient setting. The best part about this treatment is that it is painless.

You also have radiofrequency occlusion. This is where a small catheter is inserted into the vein. Once inside, it delivers radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to heat, collapse, and seal shut. This is over in a matter of minutes which is why like sclerotherapy, it is done in an outpatient setting. You have the option to be given local anesthesia to offset the pain.

If the veins are too big and things are worse than before, your doctor will have to perform surgery. You will come in and then the doctor will remove the vein. This may be done with general, local or spinal anesthesia and if it is done in the morning, you can go home in the afternoon.

Laser treatment is another option. Here, the doctor will use heat energy to destroy abnormal veins. You just have to stay still so the target is destroyed without causing any collateral damage to the nearby tissues. You should expect your skins color to change or have blister formation.

But are these spider vein treatments really necessary? The answer is no because it is not life threatening. If you feel embarrassed about showing your legs in public, then you have to do it as long as you are able to pay for the cost.

How much you will be paying varies. It depends on the procedure, how many veins will be worked on, the professional fee of the doctor and where it is done. You can expect the cost of any of these treatments to be more expensive in a city like Los Angeles or New York compared to other places that also offer it.

When you are looking for a doctor make sure he or she is certified and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

To help pay for it, you can check with your insurance provider if they will be able to shoulder it but a lot of companies will disagree. You have to remember that this is merely a cosmetic problem and it is only when your doctor thinks that this is necessary that your request will be approved.

Before you can undergo any form of treatment, you will first be given a physical exam to see if there will be any complications. Women who are nursing or are pregnant are not allowed to do so and the same goes for those who have circulatory problems, suffering from diabetes or any heart condition.

Spider vein treatments are a god send especially for those who want to look good whenever they have to show some skin. If money is not an issue, you can try one of the options mentioned as long as you do not have any medical problems which you hinder the healing process.