What are Varicose and Spider Veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that may appear blue, red, or flesh-colored. Varicose veins often look like cords and often look protruded and twisted on the leg. They may also appear swollen and raised above the skin in some people. They are often found on the thighs, back of calves, or inside the legs of those affected. In addition, during pregnancy varicose veins may emerge around the vagina and buttocks on women.

Spider veins are much like varicose veins, except they appear smaller and closer to the surface of the skin. Spider veins are often blue or red in color and look like spiderwebs or tree branches on the skin, displaying short, jagged edges. Spider veins often develop on the legs and face and can cover a large or small area of the skin. With the hot Texan weather, Austin dermatologists have much experience in using laser treatment for varicose veins and spider veins.

What causes Varicose and Spider Veins?

Varicose veins can form due to weak or damaged valves in veins. If valves in your veins break down, blood can leak back into the veins and collect there, making the veins bigger. Spider veins may also be caused by a back-up of blood, but may also appear due to hormonal changes, too much sun exposure and other injuries.

Laser Treatment of Varicose Veins

Usually simple laser treatments are administered to help smaller varicose veins or as a second-step in treatment after larger varicose veins have undergone surgery or sclerotherapy. With simple laser treatment of varicose veins, the heat from the laser damages the vein, causing scar tissue to form. This scar tissue actually closes the vein and closed veins loses its blood source and dies. After a year or so the vein disappears A new method, called Endovenous laser treatment, offers laser treatment for larger varicose veins, as a technique to close damaged veins.  Through this procedure, a laser fiber is passed through a catheter into the vein. The dermatologist watches the vein on a duplex ultrasound screen, while inserting the catheter, while the heat attempts to close the vein. Laser treatment is generally less painful than vein ligation and stripping surgery, and it has a shorter recovery time. In addition, only local anesthesia or a light sedative is needed for laser treatment, while vein surgery require general anesthesia is used to put you to completely under while in surgery.

Usually, more than one laser session is needed for simple laser treatment of tiny varicose veins. They are scheduled every 6 to 12 weeks, as prescribed by your doctor. Furthermore, Endovenous laser treatment for large varicose veins usually closes veins about 94% of the time reports WebMD. A second treatment may be needed if the procedure does not close the damaged vein. Depending on what is available in your area, you may have choices between another laser treatment, radiofrequency treatment, or sclerotherapy.

Side effects of laser treatment include:

• Skin burns
• Skin coloring changes
• Feelings of burning, pain, or prickling after recovery, from nerve damage
• Small or large blood clotting in the vein or a deep vein

Consult with a doctor to explore your best treatment plan before scheduling an appointment for laser treatment for varicose veins.

 Laser Treatment of Spider Veins

The most common laser used to treat spider veins is the Nd: YAG Laser system. It is a hand held device and also has a cooling tip to minimize the discomfort during treatment. The Nd YAG laser pierces the skin and penetrates the superficial blood vessel and the heat generated from the laser coagulates the blood inside causing it to collapse and seal. Over the next few weeks, the vessel disappears. The newer laser treatments allow the delivery of a precise dosage of energy to each blood vessel without injuring any nearby structures.  The procedure usually takes less than 10-20 minutes. The majority of sessions do not require any type of anesthesia, but for those who are squeamish or anticipate pain, the physician may apply a topical anesthetic 20 minutes prior to the procedure.

Get Laser Treatment for Varicose and Spider Veins in Austin

Contact us at 512-478-3376 to arrange an appointment with Four Points Dermatology and learn more about Laser Treatment for Varicose and Spider Veins.