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| Spider Veins |
Introduction
What You Need to Know
How to Find a Specialist
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| INTRODUCTION
Millions of men and women are bothered by spider veins—those small unsightly clusters of red, blue, or purple veins that most commonly appear on the thighs, calves and ankles and occasionally on the face. An estimated fifty percent of the adult female population and fifteen to twenty percent of men share this common cosmetic problem.
Spider veins are small, thin veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. They are connected to a larger venous system, though they are not an essential part of it since they do not actually carry blood to the heart.
Many factors can contribute to the development of spider veins, including:
pregnancy
weight gain
chronic sun exposure
activities that demand prolonged standing or sitting
heredity
certain medications, such as birth control pills or hormone replacement medication
Spider veins form when excess blood backs up in the blood stream. The excess blood creates pressure. The body releases the pressure by creating new veins on the skin’s surface.
The primary problem with spider veins is their unsightly appearance, but they can also cause aching, swelling, burning and night cramps in legs.
Spider veins and varicose veins are often lumped together in cosmetic surgery, but they are actually very different conditions. Varicose veins are caused by faulty valves in the venous system, creating twisted and swollen veins. Varicose veins are larger, darker and tend to bulge with a rope-like texture on the skin’s surface. Varicose veins are also more likely to cause pain and be related to more serious vein disorders. In contrast, spider veins are smaller and closer to the skin’s surface in a branch-like or linear formation.
The techniques most used to treat spider veins are sclerotherapy and/or laser surgery. Those that appear on the face can be treated with lasers. Leg veins are treated with a procedure called sclerotherapy. Both are relatively simple procedures that have great success in removing spider veins.
If you are considering having cosmetic surgery for your spider veins, consult with a cosmetic surgeon. Both sclerotherapy and laser therapy can completely remove the spider veins, although laser therapy is only effective with smaller treatment areas or less extensive cases of spidering. Studies have shown that 80 to 90 percent of patients treated for spider veins are happy with the results. Sclerotherapy and laser therapy cannot prevent new spider veins from forming, however. If new spider veins appear, you may need to repeat the procedure.
More Information on This Procedure:
What You Need to Know
How to Find a Specialist
Related Articles
Discussion Forums
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
About the ProcedureWho is a Candidate?Preparing for SurgeryPainRecoveryRisksCosts
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HOW TO FIND A SPECIALIST
If you are considering a cosmetic medical procedure, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon about the process, risks, recovery time and costs. For confidential, personalized information at no cost or obligation, use the Find A Specialist tool to find a board-certified plastic surgeon near you. It's your first step to looking and feeling better today!
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RELATED ARTICLES
Laser Skin Surgery (AUDIO)
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eBODY.COM
Share your thoughts and questions in the discussion Forums.
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