Who is At-risk for Spider Veins?
‘Spider veins’ is the common term for the web of purple, blue, and red blood vessels that appear beneath the surface of the skin – especially on the legs. This condition is often coupled with a tingling or burning sensation, numbness, cramping, restlessness, and heaviness or weakness.
Spider veins are more common in women than in men and occur in 30-60% of the adult population. The risk of developing spider veins increases as we age, being most common after 50.
Women who are pregnant, menopausal, or taking birth control pills are at an added risk of developing spider veins & the attached symptom set.
Causes of Spider Veins
- Heredity. Children of parents who have experienced spider veins show an added likelihood to develop them in adulthood as well.
- Certain Occupations. Spider veins are common in nurses, teachers, wait staff and other individuals who spend all day on their feet as added pressure to the lower extremities can create blood vessel build-up.
- Hormone Fluctuations. Changes in hormones can also affect blood flow in the legs. Women who are pregnant or going through menopause as well as those who take birth control pills are among those who experience spider veins more readily.
- Weight. Patients who are obese suffer more commonly and consistently from spider veins.
- Blood Clots. Many patients who have experienced blood clots also experienced spider veins and the attached symptoms.
- Abdominal Pressure. Pressure from bloating and constipation, ulcers, and abdominal tumors show a greater risk of developing spider veins, as well as patients who routinely wear an abdominal girdle.
How to Treat Spider Veins
In our Aventura office, we treat spider veins aesthetically with a process called Sclerotherapy. In Sclerotherapy treatments we inject the veins directly with a saline solution or specialized type of detergent – a sclerosant – causing the spider veins to disappear over the next 6 weeks.
This process works by essentially affecting interior lining of the afflicted vein – causing the vein to close. This process is safe and proven modified from a similar treatment which was developed first in the 1930s.
What to Expect with Sclerotherapy
A sclerotherapy session takes no more than 45 minutes to 1 hour for most patients and even less time for patients with small areas to treat.
Patients can prepare for a sclerotherapy appointment by wearing shorts and arriving without lotion or other skin products applied to the area.
For best results and to avoid reversing the results of your sclerotherapy treatment, we recommend avoiding heat/hot water, prolonged direct sunlight, air travel, and heavy exercise as much as possible following your appointment. We do recommend consistent walking & gentle movement as well as the use of compression stockings following your treatment.
Our clients trust sclerotherapy for their spider veins and love the results they get here at the Biotech Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa.
Contact Us Today for a consultation with Dr. Vega.