Varicose and Spider Veins on Legs
Spider veins on legs are a very common problem for women, especially after giving birth. Venous wall weakness is hereditary. Spider veins will emerge over time regardless of the colour of your skin or your weight and there is little that you can do to prevent them.
What are the treatment possibilities?
The size of the vein is the major factor that your physician will take into consideration when deciding of the method of treatment.
Sclerotisation Method
In the treatment of tiny spider veins the best results are achieved by the Sclerotisation Method. A substance is injected into the veins which induces a mild damage to the inner venous wall. That is enough for the venous wall to glue together. A slight inflammation arises around the vein but is then absorbed back into the surrounding skin tissue.
A blood clot forms in the vein immediately after the intravenous application. This will not be visible, but can be felt as a tiny induration. The treated area may be sensitive or a little red but this will subside after two weeks. Indurations will also disappear. The treatment is simple, painless and does not require any restrictions in the patient’s daily life. It is possible to treat a number of spider veins on both legs in one session. The length of the treatment depends upon the condition of the patients legs.
You will need to wear elastic compression stockings, which will be prescribed by your physician 2 to 4 weeks after the treatment.
Laser Treatment
The smallest red coloured veins may be treated by the vascular laser Candela V Beam. This laser is also used to treat facial spider veins and port-wine stains. Repeated sessions are usually necessary to achieve optimal results.
Surgery
Vein surgery, either classic or laser, is performed in the case of large varicose veins
How effective are leg spider vein treatments?
These treatments are very effective. Most of the spider veins will disappear after the procedure. Unfortunately new spider veins may develop at any time, especially in individuals with hereditary background.
How to prepare for the procedure?
These procedures do not require any special preparations
What to do after the procedure?
We recommend that you walk for at least 2 to 3 hours after the procedure and then every day at least one hour. You will need to wear compression stockings for 2 to 3 weeks.
Possible Side Effects or Complications
Complications are rare. In some cases however, patients have experienced the one of the following complications:
Pigmentation change – a transient brown colouring of the skin that will disappear.
Incomplete removal of spider veins – if a vein i only partially treated, a second session will be needed.
Skin ulcer – an unusual complication caused by wrong application of the sclerotising substance outside the vein.
Spider vein treatment is usually a simple procedure which does not require a hospital stay. It has a very high success rate. We will gladly answer any further questions you may have.