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Spider Veins Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• What are spider veins?
• Can spider veins cause leg swelling or pain?
• What causes spider veins?
• How can I prevent spider veins?
• Is there any harm in removing spider veins?
• Can spider veins recur?
• When is the best time to have the spider veins treated?
• How are spider veins treated?
• What is the best treatment for spider veins?
• How is sclerotherapy done?
• Which is the best treatment for spider veins: LASER TREATMENT OR SCLEROTHERAPY?
• Can anyone undergo sclerotherapy?
• Is there any preparation required before sclerotherapy?
• What happens after sclerotherapy treatment?
• How long is each sclerotherapy session?
• What are side effects of sclerotherapy?
• Does insurance cover spider care treatments?
• How do lasers treat spider veins?
• What is the role of Laser in the treatment of spider veins?
• What are advantages of laser over sclerotherapy?
• What are disadvantages of laser over sclerotherapy?
• Who is a candidate for laser therapy?
• What type of laser is used to treat spider veins?
• How does the laser work?
• How do I know if I am a candidate for laser vein treatment?
• What preparations must I take?
• What happens during the laser therapy?
• Is laser therapy painful?
• How does one feel after the laser therapy?
• Are there any precautions after laser therapy?
• How often can one undertake laser therapy for spider veins?
• What are side effects of laser therapy?
• How long does it take for the results to become evident?
• What are potential complications of laser therapy?
• Is the Laser treatment for spider veins curative?
• What other conditions does the laser treat?
• How does the laser work?
• How do I know if I am a candidate for laser vein treatment?
• Do I require a preparation before laser therapy?
• What happens during the laser therapy?
• Is laser therapy painful?
• When do the spider veins disappear?
• What are side effects of laser therapy?
• What happens after laser therapy?
• Are there any other risks with laser therapy?
• How many treatments will I need?
• When can I go back to work after laser therapy?
• Is laser therapy covered by medical insurance?
Q: What are spider veins?
A: Spider veins (are also known as telangiectasias) are small superficial thread like veins close to the skin surface. They are more prominent on the back and sides of the thigh and just below the knee. These veins are more distinct in fair skinned people, and more common in females. The spider veins may appear spontaneously and they have no symptoms. They appear as numerous fine bluish/red circles on the legs.
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Q: Can spider veins cause leg swelling or pain?
A: Spider veins are minute veins and thread like. They are only of a cosmetic nuisance. They do not cause pain, leg swelling or fatigue. In any individual who has these symptoms, the spider veins are not the cause of the problem.
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Q: What causes spider veins?
A: The real cause of spider veins is not known but they are more prominent in obese individuals, females, individuals who are on their feet for prolonged periods, minor trauma, pregnancy and perhaps use of contraceptives. There may be a familial component to these veins. In general, any condition that will increase pressure in the veins, can lead to spider veins.
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Q: How can I prevent spider veins?
A: There are several ways spider veins can be prevented:
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting undergarments and clothing that constricts the waist, groin or legs
- Avoid crossing your legs while seated
- Avoid sitting or standing in one position for a long time
- Exercise regularly to increase circulation
- Lose weight if you are overweight
Q: Will my vision improve immediately after surgery?
A: Patients usually notice an immediate improvement in their vision after the CK procedure. However, it usually takes several weeks for the eyes to reach the final level of correction.
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Q: Is there any harm in removing spider veins?
A: Spider veins have no function and removing does no harm. The only reason they are removed is because of their unsightly cosmetic.
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Q: Can spider veins recur?
A: Although spider veins can develop during subsequent pregnancies, previously treated veins should not reoccur. Spider veins can be removed but new ones can always occur. Most people who have spider veins have a predisposition and despite treatment, new veins will appear in the coming years. There is no cure for spider veins.
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Q: When is the best time to have the spider veins treated?
A: Spider veins have no symptoms and the major problem is cosmetic. Therefore, the surgery is strictly elective and can be done any time. Spider veins do tend to become more prominent during pregnancy and so it is best to wait until the pregnancy is over.
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Q: How are spider veins treated?
A: The most important thing to know is that these veins are entirely of a cosmetic concern. There are several options in treating spider veins. The most common is sclerotherapy, laser and camouflage. Surgery is never used to treat spider veins.
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Q: What is the best treatment for spider veins?
A: The best and gold standard treatment for spider veins is laser. Laser vein removal is an easy, fast, and effective way to treat superficial veins Laser therapy has been used in the medicine for more than 30 years. Advances in technology have helped developed many different lasers. The laser uses a focused beam of light. In the treatment of veins, the wavelength of light is targeted to the pigment in the blood. The laser heats up the small vein and destroys it. The laser beam is focused and does not damage the nearby skin tissue. Over a period of four to six weeks, the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears.
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Q: How is sclerotherapy done?
A: Sclerotherapy involves injection of a sterile solution (called a sclerosing solution) into the small veins using a very fine, thin needle. This solution irritates the vein lining causing it to undergo fibrosis and eventually disappear. Multiple veins can be injected at each session. The sclerosing solution used may be either hypertonic saline or sodium tetradecylsulfate.
Q: Which is the best treatment for spider veins: LASER TREATMENT OR SCLEROTHERAPY?
A: The method you select for treating venous disease should be based on your physician's diagnosis, the size of the veins to be treated, your treatment history, your age, your history of allergies, and your ability to tolerate surgery and anesthesia, among other factors. As noted above, small spider veins cannot be surgically removed and can only be treated with sclerotherapy and/or transcutaneous laser treatment. On the other hand, larger varicose veins may, according to many studies, be better managed through surgery.
Sclerotherapy has been round for 20 years and is a safe procedure. The procedure involves the use of multiple injections to destroy the vein. Lasers on the other hand do not require needles and are currently in vogue. Laser therapy is also slightly more expensive than sclerotherapy. Laser therapy is fast becoming the procedure of choice.
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Q: Are there restrictions after having CK?
A: As with any other types of vision procedure, certain precautions should be taken after CK. You should avoid getting contaminated water in your eyes for at least one week. This includes water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, and the ocean. When showering or taking baths, you should keep your eyes closed to avoid getting soap and dirty water in them. Also, you should avoid rubbing your eyes vigorously for two weeks following the procedure. Eye makeup should not be used for few days after surgery.
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Q: Can anyone undergo sclerotherapy?
A: Almost anyone with unwanted spider veins can be treated, except women who are pregnant or nursing. Other relative contraindications include those with skin infections, uncontrolled diabetes, fever, history of deep vein thrombosis, anticoagulant therapy those patients taking corticosteroids
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Q: Is there any preparation required before sclerotherapy?
A: No extensive preparation is required before the procedure. It is recommended that one stop smoking and stop taking aspirin a few day before the procedure. Any patient on a blood thinker is not a candidate for sclerotherapy.
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Q: What happens after sclerotherapy treatment?
A: There is some mild pain which can easily be overcome with Tylenol. The injected site will appear bruised and swollen for a few days. Continual wearing of the ace bandaged will relieved the swelling and pain. The bruising usually disappears in 2-3 weeks. One will have no problem with walking. After the first 2 days, most patients can resume their normal activities.
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Q: How long is each sclerotherapy session?
A: Generally, most individuals have multiple spider veins and only up to 15-20 injections can be done at seating. Each treatment session lasts up to 30 minutes. After the treatment, sterile dressings are placed over the injection site and the entire leg is covered with an ace bandage. The ace bandage is left on for 2-3 days until the patient returns to see the doctor. Most individual require 2-3 sessions the sessions are best done at weekly intervals. The interval between sessions does not affect the treated veins.
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Q: What are side effects of sclerotherapy?
A: Besides some stinging pain, sclerotherapy can rarely cause a few side effects. Allergic reactions are rare. A few individual may develop intense itching at the site of injection. If the chemical is injected outside the vein, profound discoloration and pain can occur.
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Q: How do lasers treat spider veins?
A: Laser treatment is a safe, effective option for spider veins. It does not involve any injection and takes a few minutes. Repeat sessions may be required in some cases. The laser causes the blood in the vein to disappear.
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Q: What is the role of Laser in the treatment of spider veins?
A: The best and gold standard treatment for spider veins is laser. Laser vein removal is an easy, fast, and effective way to treat superficial veins Laser therapy has been used in the medicine for more than 30 years. Advances in technology have helped developed many different lasers. The laser uses a focused beam of light. In the treatment of veins, the wavelength of light is targeted to the pigment in the blood. The laser heats up the small vein and destroys it. The laser beam is focused and does not damage the nearby skin tissue. Over a period of four to six weeks, the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears.
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Q: What are advantages of laser over sclerotherapy?
A: The laser has several advantages over sclerotherapy. These include:
• it has much fewer side effects
• It is less traumatic to the surrounding skin compared to sclerotherapy
• It takes a much shorter time to complete laser treatment
• It is less painful than sclerotherapy
• Recovery is immediate
• Downtime is almost zero
• Laser therapy can even be used on the face
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Q: What are disadvantages of laser over sclerotherapy?
A: Among disadvantages, the
• laser can not be used for more deeper veins
• laser is slightly more expensive than sclerotherapy
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Q: Who is a candidate for laser therapy?
A: There are no absolute reasons as to why one can not undergo laser therapy.
However one should:
• be in good physical health
• be mentally and psychologically stable
• preferably does not smoke
• Wants to improve his/her appearance
• Is realistic about the procedure and results
• Has no disease of the blood vessels or problems with bleeding
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Q: What type of laser is used to treat spider veins?
A: The most common laser used to treat spider veins is the Nd: YAG Laser system. It is a hand held device and also has a cooling tip to minimize the discomfort during the therapy.
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Q: How does the laser work?
A: The laser pierces the skin and penetrates the superficial blood vessel. The heat generated from the laser coagulates the blood inside the vessel causing it to collapse and seal. Over the next few weeks, the vessel will disappear and all the blood will be removed by the body's scavenging cells. The newer laser treatments allow the delivery of a precise dosage of energy to each blood vessel without injuring any nearby structures.
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Q: How do I know if I am a candidate for laser vein treatment?
A: All individuals are evaluated prior to laser therapy. Spider veins do not cause symptoms and are of a cosmetic concern only. For those who have symptoms, further investigation is done to ensure that they do not have varicose veins. Laser therapy is most effective for the very small spider veins and not used to treat large varicose veins.
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Q: What preparations must I take?
A: There are no major preparations required before the laser treatment. A few common sense recommendations include avoiding sun exposure, aspirin, alcohol and not smoke for at least a week prior to the procedure.
On the day of the treatment one should avoid all creams, lotions and moisturizers on the area that is going to be treated.
One should wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the body part(s).
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Q: What happens during the laser therapy?
A: The procedure is done in a doctor's office or clinic and usually takes less than 10-20 minutes. In most cases, only the very small superficial veins are treated with a laser. The majority of individuals do not require any type of anesthesia, but for those who are squeamish or anticipate pain, the physician may apply a topical anesthetic 20 minutes prior to the procedure. Most current day lasers also have a cooling system which prevents the tip of the laser from getting hot.
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Q: Is laser therapy painful?
A: During your treatment, you may feel a slight tingling sensation as the laser fires. If the individual feels any pain, a topical local anesthetic is applied 20 minutes before the procedure.
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Q: How does one feel after the laser therapy?
A: Soon after the procedure, you may feel a slight bump on the skin which will disappear in the next 2-4 hours. The area may also appear slightly redder and occasionally may be bruised.
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Q: Are there any precautions after laser therapy?
A: After laser therapy, it is strongly recommended that one keep away from the sun. Healing can be facilitated by wearing support hose. The pain is minimal and one may take any over the counter pain medications. After treatment, there is no down time. You can resume all of your normal activities immediately afterward.
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Q: How often can one undertake laser therapy for spider veins?
A: It is generally recommended that the treatments be spaced four to six weeks apart. If new veins appear, additional treatments are required for optimum results.
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Q: What are side effects of laser therapy?
A: The skin above the veins will have a reddish, cat-scratch appearance. This generally disappears over the next two days.
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Q: How long does it take for the results to become evident?
A: The results of laser treatment for spider veins are not immediate. After the laser therapy, the vessels underneath the skin will gradually change from a dark blue to light red color, then eventually disappearing in two to six weeks.
Most patients report a high degree of satisfaction with the procedure and relief at no longer having to hide unsightly veins. The treated areas are noticeably clearer and in most cases the skin continues to improve with each successive treatment.
The majority of spider veins will disappear within two to four weeks, and in some cases even longer.
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Q: What are potential complications of laser therapy?
A: The risks associated with laser vein therapy are minimal. Your eyes will be shielded during the treatments. Most facilities use state-of-the-art cooling systems, thus the treatments are low risk and relatively pain-free.
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Q: Is the Laser treatment for spider veins curative?
A: There is no cure for spider veins. Although treatment does not prevent the development of new spider veins, the removal of existing veins can dramatically improve the appearance of the affected area, providing a more youthful, healthy look and an even color pattern to the skin. Spider veins are recurrent and thus, more treatments will be required in the future.
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Q: What other conditions does the laser treat?
A: In addition to the leg spider veins, the laser can provide non-invasive skin treatments for the face. It is also used to remove unwanted hair even from patients who are not always good candidates for laser hair removal, such as those with darker or tanned skin.
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Q: How does the laser work?
A: During laser therapy, light energy is delivered through a small laser hand piece to a targeted vein, in a series of brief pulses. The light energy is absorbed by the lining of the blood vessels and the blood within the blood vessels. The heat generated causes a coagulation (clotting) of the blood, which is subsequently absorbed by the body. The advanced laser treatments allow the delivery of a precise dosage of energy to each blood vessel.
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Q: How do I know if I am a candidate for laser vein treatment?
A: All individuals are evaluated prior to laser therapy. Spider veins do not cause symptoms and are of a cosmetic concern only. For those who have symptoms, further investigation is done to ensure that they do not have varicose veins. Laser therapy is most effective for the very small spider veins and not used to treat large varicose veins.
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Q: Do I require a preparation before laser therapy?
A: There is no prior preparation required before laser therapy. The procedure is done in a doctor’s office or clinic and usually takes less than 10-20 minutes.
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Q: What happens during the laser therapy?
A: Only the very small superficial veins are treated with a laser. Generally no anesthetic is required for the procedure. The laser has a specialized chilled hand piece which acts to cool the surface of the skin while the beam from the laser penetrates the skin. Pulses of light energy are then administered in a sequential fashion.
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Q: Is laser therapy painful?
A: During your treatment, you will feel a slight tingling sensation as the laser fires. If the individual feels any pain, a topical local anesthetic is applied 20 minutes before the procedure.
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Q: When do the spider veins disappear?
A: The majority of the treated spider veins will disappear within two to three treatments. The treatments can be spaced four to six weeks apart. If new veins appear, additional treatments are required for optimum results. The treatments may be spaced every three to four week intervals.
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Q: What are side effects of laser therapy?
A: The skin above the veins will have a reddish, cat-scratch appearance. This generally disappears over the next two days.
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Q: What happens after laser therapy?
A: Patients are encouraged to resume all normal activities immediately. Final results may not be apparent for several months. Most patients are satisfied by the results in a very short time.
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Q: Are there any other risks with laser therapy?
A: The risks associated with laser vein therapy are minimal. Your eyes will be shielded during the treatments. Most facilities use state-of-the-art cooling systems, thus the treatments are low risk and relatively pain-free.
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Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Depending on the size and number of veins, two to six treatments will be needed. The treatments are usually done 4-6 weeks apart. Those with a tendency towards vascular problems will most likely require additional treatments.
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Q: When can I go back to work after laser therapy?
A: Patients are encouraged to resume all normal activities immediately. Final results may not be apparent for several months. Most patients are satisfied by the results in a very short time.
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Q: Is laser therapy covered by medical insurance?
A: No, spider veins are only of cosmetic nuisance and not covered by medical insurance or Medicare.
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