Tag: Legs

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.

The 2 Popular Choices When It Comes to Spider Vein

The 2 Popular Choices When It Comes to Spider Vein Treatment

Are you looking for the available choices when it comes to spider vein treatment? As people age, their bodies begin to show signs of the processes that they are going through. There are many changes that happen in one’s body, both in appearance and capabilities.

No matter what your daily routine is, you will feel the effects of the aging process through time. There are some things that you can longer do. And there are some things that you used to be good at that you are bound to perform at a slower pace than before.

Despite the fact that this is only natural, people cannot help but look for ways and quick remedies as to how they can get rid of the problem or if not, just to slow down the process.

Spider veins usually become prominent when one approaches their middle age. Women are more prone to this than men. The latter fact is mainly due to the hormonal changes that women go through especially when they go through the menopausal period.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are expanded small blood vessels. These can be found near the skin’s surface that appears to be bluish or red. These can come out almost anywhere in the body. But most people have them on their legs and face.

The occurrence of spider veins is only normal. This is not deadly or harmful. This may not even be covered by your medical insurance. But you can bargain if you experience any pain with such situation.

Some people mask the unwanted sight by wearing suitable clothes that can hide their spider veins. Others use cosmetics to conceal such. While other folks opt for suntan in desperate attempts to hide the veins. They can get away with such tricks, because unlike varicose veins, spider veins appear to be smaller and thus the pain experienced by the person who has such is very little as compared to the former.

If you are bothered by the situation, these 2 are the more popular treatments for spider veins as of today.

1. Vascular lasers. The veins in the part of the face are what this kind of remedy usually treats. The reason for this is that the veins on the area appear to be smaller and superficial as compared with the ones found on people’s legs. The skin on your legs is thicker than the skin on your face and the blood vessels that have the veins are deeper. Thus this makes it harder for lasers to penetrate the veins on the legs.

For such reason, some people opt to tan their legs to hide the spider veins. But did you know that this option only makes it even harder for lasers to treat the part? And you are becoming more prone to skin cancer because of such act.

The procedure is becoming more and more advanced as years pass by. There are infrared lasers that are being utilized by specialists today that can penetrate the dermis, or the lower layer of the human skin. It is now possible to reach the vascular tissue through this procedure.

2. Sclerotherapy. This has been the conventional method for spider vein treatment. This has been trusted by dermatologists for over 60 years. The procedure involves the injection of specially formulated solutions that aim to get rid of the veins.

Spider Vein Treatments At Home

Spider veins arent pretty. Although this is not life threatening, it is hard to walk around when people see this on your legs. To help you fight it, here are a few special vein treatments you can practice on your own.

First, exercise regularly. Although this activity may not prevent spider veins from appearing, working out lessens the risk of problems in blood circulation. This is because working muscles in the lower limbs contract thus pushing blood through the veins and back to the heart.

Just about any exercise will do. You can walk, ride a bike, run, jog, lift some weights or use the stairs instead of riding the elevator while at work.

If you exercise regularly, naturally you will lose weight. You have to remember that people who are overweight cant pump blood from their lower limbs to their heart. Also, their blood vessels carry more blood than those who are thinner so there is a strain on the veins.

Sweating is not enough to reduce the risk of spider veins because all the hard work is for nothing if you dont also maintain a balanced diet. Since collagen is part of the tissue in the veins and valves, it is only right that you eat food rich in protein and vitamin C. To have a balanced diet, mix this up with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

You should not sit or stand too long in one place because this disrupts the flow of blood down your veins. Whenever possible, get up to stretch your legs or sit down to let them relax. You can also shift the weight of one leg to the other if you are standing.

When you get home, prop your legs because this helps the blood move from your feet and ankles back to your heart. Doctors have been telling people to do this for centuries but we rarely do it. Now that you know, find time to do so.

Instead of sitting down, you can also prop your legs by putting three or four pillows under them when you are lying down on your bed. Stay in this position for about ten minutes to an hour and you will feel better after.

Women should wear compression stockings regularly. This come in various strengths so first check with your doctor which one you should buy from the store. If a stronger one is needed, this will have to be prescribed by your doctor.

You can also try wearing spandex pants that are made from elastic material. Be sure that it is not too tight especially in the groin or waist as this can cut into your skin and limit circulation.

There is a product around that can cover up the spider veins whenever you have to go to a party or head down to the beach. The cream is available in a variety of shades and applied by hand so it can blend with your skin.

Spider vein treatment on your own wont make them disappear and following what was mentioned here wont prevent it from happening if it runs in your family or as you age. What they can do is help you hide it so you dont feel embarrassed showing your legs in public until you consider taking either sclerotherapy or therapy to get rid of it.