What are varicose veins and spider veins? |
How common are abnormal leg veins? |
What causes varicose and spider veins? |
Why do varicose and spider veins usually appear in the legs? |
Are varicose and spider veins painful or dangerous? |
How can I prevent varicose and spider veins? |
Should I see a doctor about varicose veins? |
How are varicose and spider veins treated? |
Can varicose and spider veins return even after treatment?
Varicose
Veins and Spider Veins
Besides
a physical examination, your doctor can take x-rays or ultrasound pictures of
the vein to assess the cause and severity of the problem. You may want to speak
with a doctor who specializes in vein diseases (phlebology). You should discuss
which treatment options are best for your condition and lifestyle. It is important
to remember that not all cases of varicose veins are the same. Doctors may differ
in the ways they treat you. Some available treatments or surgeries include:
- Sclerotherapy
- Of all available treatments, this one is most commonly used for both
spider veins and varicose veins. It involves injecting a solution into the vein
that causes the lining of the vein walls to swell, stick together, and eventually
seal shut. The flow of blood is stopped and the vein turns into scar tissue. In
a few weeks, the vein should fade. Although the same vein may need to be injected
with the solution more than once, sclerotherapy is very effective if done correctly.
The American Academy of Dermatology states that most patients can expect a 50%
to 90% improvement. Also, a new and improved type of sclerotherapy called microsclerotherapy
uses improved solutions and injection techniques that increase the success rate
for removal of spider veins. Sclerotherapy does not require anesthesia, and can
be done in the doctor's office.
Some
side effects may only occur at the site of the injection, such as stinging or
painful cramps; red raised patches of skin, small skin ulcers, and bruises. Spots,
brown lines, or groups of fine red blood vessels could appear around the vein
being treated. These usually disappear. The treated vein could become inflamed
or develop lumps of coagulated or congested blood. These are not dangerous. Applying
heat and taking aspirin or antibiotics can relieve inflammation. Lumps of coagulated
blood can be drained. Health insurance coverage varies. If the treatment is done
for cosmetic reasons only, it may not be covered. - Electrodesiccation
- This treatment is similar to sclerotherapy except the veins are sealed off with
an electrical current instead of the injection of solution. This treatment may
leave scars.
- Laser
surgery – Until recently, laser treatments mostly were used for
treating spider veins on the face. Varicose veins in the legs did not respond
consistently to this treatment, and some doctors doubted whether laser treatment
actually worked, and it was not covered by most health insurance plans. Now, however,
new technology in laser treatments can effectively treat varicose veins in the
legs.
Laser
surgery works by sending very strong bursts of light onto the vein that makes
the vein slowly fade and disappear. Lasers are very direct and accurate, and only
damage the area being treated. All skin types and colors can be safely treated
with lasers. The American Academy of Dermatology believes that the new laser technology
is more effective with fewer side effects. Laser surgery is more comfortable for
patients because there are no needles or incisions. When the laser hits the skin,
the patient only feels a small pinch, and the skin is soothed by cooling both
before and after the laser is applied. There may be some redness or swelling of
the skin right after the treatment, but this disappears within a few days. The
skin also may be discolored, but this will disappear within one to two weeks.
Treatments last 15 to 20 minutes, and depending on the severity of the veins,
two to five treatments are generally needed to remove varicose veins in the legs.
Patients can return to normal activity right after treatment. There
are several types of lasers that can be used to treat varicose veins and spider
veins on the legs and face. Although your doctor will decide which type is best
to treat your condition, some of the lasers used to treat veins include yellow
light lasers, green light lasers, and other intense pulsed light systems. Again,
health insurance coverage varies. If the treatment is done for cosmetic reasons
only, it may not be covered. - VNUS®
Closure technique® – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March
1999 approved this new procedure for use in the United States. Although it is
not as widely used as sclerotherapy, some doctors feel it may become the standard
for treating varicose veins. It is not very invasive and can be done in a doctor’s
office. This method involves placing a special catheter or a very small tube into
the vein. Once inside, the catheter sends radiofrequency energy to cause the vein
wall to shrink and seal shut. Healthier veins surrounding the closed vein can
then restore the normal flow of blood. As this happens, symptoms from the varicose
vein decrease. The only side effect is slight bruising.
Surgery
is used mostly to treat very large varicose veins. Available surgical options
include: - Surgical
Ligation and Stripping - With this treatment, the veins are tied shut and completely
removed from the leg. Removing the veins will not affect the circulation of blood
in the leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the larger volumes of
blood. The varicose veins mostly removed through surgery are superficial or surface
veins, and collect blood only from the skin. This surgery requires either local
or general anesthesia and must be done in an operating room on an outpatient basis.
Serious
side effects or complications with this surgery are uncommon. However, with general
anesthesia, there always is a risk of cardiac and respiratory complications. Similar
to the risks of sclerotherapy, bleeding and congestion of blood can be a problem,
but the collected blood usually settles on its own and does not require any further
treating. Wound infection, inflammation, swelling and redness also can occur.
This surgery also can leave permanent scars. A very common complication is the
damage of nerve tissue around the treated vein. Small sensory nerve branches are
difficult to avoid when veins are removed. This damage can cause numbness in small
areas of skin, burning, or a change in sensation around the surgical scar. The
most serious, but rare, complication of surgery is the creation of a deep vein
blood clot that may travel to the lungs and heart. To be safe, many surgeons give
injections of heparin, a drug that reduces blood coagulation, for one to two days
before the surgery. However, heparin also can increase the normal amount of bleeding
and bruising after the operation. - Ambulatory
Phlebectomy - With this surgery, a special light source marks the location
of the vein. Tiny incisions are made in the vein, and then with surgical hooks,
the vein is pulled out of the leg. This surgery requires local or regional anesthesia.
The vein usually is removed in one treatment. Side effects and complications are
similar to those of ligation and stripping. The most common side effect is slight
bruising. Compared to traditional surgery, ambulatory phlebectomy allows the removal
of very large varicose veins while leaving only very small scars. Patients can
return to normal activity the day after treatment.
What are varicose veins and spider veins? |
How common are abnormal leg veins? |
What causes varicose and spider veins? |
Why do varicose and spider veins usually appear in the legs? |
Are varicose and spider veins painful or dangerous? |
How can I prevent varicose and spider veins? |
Should I see a doctor about varicose veins? |
How are varicose and spider veins treated? |
Can varicose and spider veins return even after treatment?
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