Spider veins occur when the blood cannot flow properly through your veins due to damaged valves. The blood collects in the veins rather than flowing back to the heart. Although spider veins might not affect your body functions, they can be irritating and uncomfortable. If you are looking for a remedy, healthcare providers such as River Region Dermatology and Laser in Montgomery, AL, offer several options. Here are the best spider vein treatments:
8 Best Spider Vein Treatments
1. Asclera® Sclerotherapy
Asclera Sclerotherapy is one of the most effective and minimally invasive ways to eliminate spider veins. This treatment process involves injecting a chemical agent, Asclera®, in this case, into the vein using a fine needle. Asclera® irritates the vessel’s lining causing it to inflame and harden. Once this happens, the vein breaks down and eventually fades away after being absorbed by the body. This forces blood to reroute to other healthy veins located deeper in the body. Top benefits of Asclera® Sclerotherapy include:
It’s Fast
The process only takes 15-45 minutes and has an 87% patient satisfaction rate.
Painless
The Asclera® solution is effective and painless when injected. It does not cause any reaction and formulates as “foam” that allows the physician to inject even larger veins.
2. Laser Therapy
Laser Therapy for spider vein treatment is a quick process that uses a focused light beam to heat and destroy affected veins. Applying laser energy to the treatment area targets the blood pigment and heats the vessel without damaging your skin or surrounding tissues. It takes more than one treatment session to eradicate a spider vein. The repeat treatments are scheduled every 6-12 weeks. Over time, your body re-absorbs the vein, it disappears, and blood reroutes to healthier veins.
3. Closure System
The closure system works best for spider veins close to the skin’s surface. The treatment process permanently closes the vein by injecting a sticky adhesive material into the vein. This adhesive is a biological glue that equates to a medical version of the superglue. After treatment, blood reroutes to healthier veins surrounding the closed one.
4. Ambulatory Phlebectomy
This outpatient process removes the spider and varicose veins through a series of skin punctures. The physician only numbs the affected part of your leg. Ambulatory Phlebectomy is a good choice for treating both symptomatic and asymptomatic superficial veins from the skin. It is mostly performed on varicose veins and larger veins that bulge above the skin’s surface.
5. High Ligation and Vein Stripping
High ligation and stripping are minor surgical procedures for spider veins treatment and prevent vein damage complications. When several valves in the vein are heavily damaged, the diseased part is stripped off. The doctor makes an incision below the vein and threads a flexible instrument to grasp and remove the vein. The damaged vein can have one or more incisions, and it is litigated (tied off). A vein may be left to continue circulating blood if the valves below the faulty one are healthy.
6. Laser and Radiofrequency Ablation
In this treatment, your dermatologist cuts an incision and inserts a thin fiber or a catheter into an enlarged vein, and heats the catheter’s tip using either laser energy or radiofrequency. As your physician pulls the catheter out, the heat destroys the vein by sealing shut and collapsing it. Healthy veins around the sealed one take over the normal flow of blood. The treatment is preferred for larger bulging surface veins. This treatment process involves:
Anesthesia
Anesthesia application to the problem vein at the surface, which ensures the patient does not experience any discomfort or pain during the process
Collapsing the Vein
Once the anesthesia takes hold, the doctor inserts a catheter or laser fiber through a small incision and activates the radiofrequency or laser device, heating up and collapsing the vein.
7. Endoscopic Vein Surgery
This treatment process is often used in severe cases as a last resort in cases involving leg ulcers. It involves making a small cut of approximately two centimeters on your skin near the varicose vein. The doctor then inserts a small camera fixed to the end of a thin tube to move through and visualize the vein. A surgical device attached to the camera end closes the vein. After this procedure, the limb is fully bandaged with average pressure to keep the field hemostatic.
8. Compression Stockings
This is often the first approach to spider veins treatment, especially in less severe cases. Compression stockings boost your leg muscles’ ability to move blood by squeezing them. The compression amount varies by brand and type. There are three types of compression stockings:
Support Stockings
These stockings give the least pressure and are sold in most stores.
Gradient Compression Stockings
These are over-the-counter stockings that provide more pressure around the lower leg, ankle, and feet parts, which need the most pressure to move the blood back to your heart.
Gradient Compression Hose
These stockings provide the largest amount of pressure to the lower leg, ankle, and feet. They need trained fitting personnel and may be covered by your insurance plan, requiring one to produce a doctor’s prescription before purchase.
Make a Change
Treating spider veins can boost confidence and relieve pain and discomfort. The best treatment option depends on how quickly you need to recover from a treatment and where the problem is located. A short consultation with the doctor will help determine the best option for your case. Visit River Region Dermatology and Laser in Montgomery, AL, for the best spider vein treatment.
