Spider Vein Treatments Austin
Spider vein treatments are our area of expertise at Austin Vein Specialists. Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are small, thin blood vessel clusters that are easily visible within the skin. They are often red, pink, or purple and are usually dispersed as clusters in certain locations of the body. They appear most commonly on the legs but may be seen anywhere on the body, including the nose and face. They typically have the appearance of a series of lines, tree branches, or a spider-web-like shape (hence the name). They tend to be much smaller than varicose veins, somewhere in the range of the size of a small thread, or at most a toothpick. It is very common for people to seek out cosmetic therapies to rid their skin of these unsightly veins. While most cases of spider veins are of purely cosmetic concern, some patients may also experience uncomfortable symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling, itching and cramping from this condition. Many of our patients are bothered by the appearance of spider veins on prominent areas of their bodies such as the legs, nose, or face. These patients often seek spider vein treatments to restore a smooth and clear appearance to their skin. Many of these treatments are highly effective and minimally invasive, offering aesthetically pleasing results without painful or lengthy downtimes.
Causes of Spider Veins
Spider veins develop as a result of a backup of blood in certain veins, which occurs when the valves in the veins cannot effectively keep blood from flowing backward as it moves up the legs. As blood collects in the veins they begin to expand and dilate, becoming visible under the surface of the skin or within the skin itself. Spider veins are common in the legs because of the fact that blood flow must work against gravity to travel back up to the heart, with the legs having to carry the largest burden of gravity blood flow.
Spider veins affect nearly half of all adults over the age of 50 in the United States. They may occur as a result of hormonal changes, pregnancy, obesity, trauma, sun exposure, or genetic predisposition. You are much more likely to develop spider veins if you have immediate relatives with the same condition.
Our Austin Vein Specialists can diagnose spider veins through a physical examination. They will determine an appropriate treatment method based on a thorough evaluation of your condition and medical history. An ultrasound may be performed to evaluate the severity of the condition or to try to identify an underlying cause to ensure the most effective treatment approach.
Treatment of Spider Veins
There are several minimally-invasive aesthetic treatment options available to eliminate the appearance of spider veins and allow patients to once again proudly show off their legs. Sclerotherapy and skin thermal treatments such as laser or thermolysis are the most common FDA-approved therapies. Newer treatment options offer patients fewer side effects, less pain, and shorter recovery times than traditional vein removal procedures.
One of the most common and standard spider vein treatments is sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosing solution directly into the affected veins, causing them to gradually disappear. This procedure is typically performed in the doctor’s office and takes less than 30 minutes. Depending on the extent of their vein disease, patients may require one to four treatment sessions in order to achieve their desired result. Additional treatment options for spider veins may include surface laser therapy or the VeinGogh / Veinwave surface thermolysis systems. With these other therapies, thermal energy is delivered to the veins through the skin in order to eliminate the veins.
Our vein specialists have performed thousands of cosmetic spider vein treatments. So you can always feel confident that when you come to our Vein Center that you will be receiving the appropriate recommendations and best possible care.
Mild cases of spider veins may also be treated with compression stockings to put pressure on the veins and promote normal blood flow. Compression stocking therapy can potentially reduce the number of new spider veins that form on the legs, but it does nothing to eliminate the veins that have already formed on the legs. To eliminate the veins, focused interventional spider vein treatments are required. Your doctor will discuss with you what he feels are the best options for treating your condition based on your desires and expectations. Our vein specialists have over 15 years of experience in treating spider vein conditions and offer the most modern therapies available.
To learn more about spider vein treatments and the most modern spider vein treatment options available at our Austin Vein Specialists, please call or email us today to schedule an appointment. Our vein specialists proudly serve patients living in metro Austin, Westlake Hills, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Pflugerville, Leander, Round Rock, and surrounding communities of Austin.
