Spider veins are one of the most common reasons that people seek out cosmetic procedures. These abnormal blood vessels are often found on the legs or face and do not typically cause any symptoms. However, if you are dealing with spider veins, you have probably considered what your treatment options may be. There are a number of spider vein treatments available that can help to permanently remove these unsightly blood vessels.
Varicose and Spider Veins
Varicose veins are abnormal blood vessels that have a characteristic twisted, ropey appearance. Veins have one-way valves that make sure that blood flows in only one direction. A varicose vein is one that has a one-way valve that is not functioning correctly and is unable to prevent the backflow of blood into the vein. The building pressure leads to its distorted appearance.
A spider vein is a type of varicose vein that is much smaller. Instead of being blue or green in color, it is typically red or purple. Rather than being very large and twisted, spider veins are typically very small and present with a characteristic webbed appearance.
Although spider veins do not normally cause any symptoms, you may want to consider cosmetic treatment to have them removed if they are bothering you from an aesthetic point of view.
Sclerotherapy
Although sclerotherapy has been around for a while, it is still one of the most popular spider vein treatments, and is still extremely effective at removing these problem blood vessels. We inject the spider vein with a sclerosing solution that irritates it. This causes the walls of the spider vein to collapse. The vein is then eventually absorbed by your body. The blood that it once contained will be rerouted into nearby blood vessels that are healthy.
Endovenous Ablation
Endovenous ablation (also known as radiofrequency ablation) is a more modern technique that involves the use of RF energy rather than a chemical solution. The goals are the same as sclerotherapy: We want to destroy the problem vein by collapsing the vein walls. Instead of chemicals, we use radiofrequency to direct thermal energy into vein walls. After the destruction of the spider vein, the blood will be transported using neighboring blood vessels with a healthy function.
Contact Us
If you have any remaining questions about spider vein treatments, or would like to schedule a consultation for yourself, please reach out to us to begin the process of removing your spider veins. Pacific Vein Care is conveniently located in McHenry, IL. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!