If you have itsy bitsy spider veins crawling up your legs, then you have likely wondered what kind of potions or wizardly magic might banish them. Before calling on magic, you should know that there’s a simple, painless procedure to get rid of spider veins on the legs in our Middle Georgia vein speciality clinics in Macon and Warner Robins.
What Do Those Dastardly Spider Veins Look Like?
Spider veins get their name because they look like spider webs have been spun on your leg; however, the medical term for these is telangectasias. These are thin red, purple or blue in color. They can be a single line or two on the ankle or a “burst” of lines that look like a web or tree branches radiating out from a central point on your skin.
Spider veins are often found on the ankles and legs, but can appear anywhere on the body. Facial veins are common, especially on the nose. However, those often require a different type of treatment over leg veins.
What Evil Curse Caused Those Spider Veins?
No mummy’s curse gave you spider veins on the legs, but your mother very well could have. No, we’re not suggesting that your mother intentionally wished them upon you. We’re talking about the genetic predisposition to venous disease that does run in families.
A family history of varicose veins and spider veins means that you’re much more likely to develop them yourself, even if you do everything to prevent them. While this is the #1 cause for the development of spider veins, other things can contribute to spider veins on the legs, including:
- Your Gender: Sorry, ladies, but women are more likely to develop spider veins.
- Your Occupation: If your job requires you to sit or stand for long periods of time, you’re more prone to developing spider veins on the legs and ankles. This also increases your risk of varicose veins and DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).
- Pregnancy: Again, our apologies to the ladies. Each pregnancy increases your risk of developing spider veins and varicose veins.
- Obesity: If you’re overweight, you’re more likely to develop varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and ankles.
- Aging: The older you get, the more likely you are to develop some form of venous disease. These conditions also worsen as you age, so if it’s bad when you’re young, it’s a good idea to get them checked out!
How To Banish Spider Veins On The Legs
Some spider veins will go away on their own (through biology, not magic). Others are small enough and in a place on the body that they don’t bother patients cosmetically. However, if you’re tired of spider veins on your legs and ankles, or you’ve noticed that your veins itch or bleed, it’s time to come in for a consultation and consider a sclerotherapy treatment to make those spider veins “magically” fade away.
Why magically? Because, during your treatment, you will watch those spider veins disappear before your very eyes!
During a sclerotherapy treatment, your provider will use a microneedle to inject a sclerosing agent directly into the spider vein. This sclerosing agent irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to painlessly collapse. The blood that once flowed through that vein will be redirected to healthy veins and, over time, the sclerosed spider veins will be reabsorbed by the body naturally and fade away.
It will take a series of treatments before sclerotherapy can take care of all of your spider veins, depending on how many have been plaguing you. We will discuss just how many treatments will be required to fade your unwanted spider veins on the legs and ankles.
Spider Veins And Sclerotherapy FAQ
How Do I Know If My Veins Are Spider Or Varicose?
A consultation with a board-certified phlebologist, or vein specialist, is the best way to determine if your veins are spider or varicose. However, varicose veins are typically larger veins that bulge and are rope-like, while spider veins are small and thin like thread.
Are There Medical Reasons For Getting Spider Veins Treated?
If your spider veins itch or bleed, it’s a good idea to get them treated to improve your comfort and prevent injury. Additionally, if you have a history of developing many spider veins, it could mean that you are at a higher risk for developing varicose veins. As varicose veins can be painful and are progressive, it’s a good idea to see a vein specialist to get screened.
Do ‘Creams’ Advertised On The Internet Really Work On Spider Veins?’
The creams that are being promoted for the treatment for spider veins are unlikely to have any long term effect on your spider veins. They appear to work more as a temporary cover up for spider veins. Sclerotherapy and, in certain cases, surface laser treatments are the primary means of treatment for spider veins worldwide.
Will Insurance Cover My Spider Vein Treatment?
Cosmetic sclerotherapy is generally not covered by insurance, as it’s not a medically necessary procedure. However, we can discuss financing options and package discounts related to your sclerotherapy treatments.
Do You Offer Surface Laser Treatment For Spider Veins?
This is a good question and one that we are often asked. Sclerotherapy is the ‘worldwide gold standard’ for the treatment of spider veins. However, over the years much research has gone into creating the ideal laser to treat spider veins. The success rate for laser treatment for spider veins on the face is superior to laser treatment for spider veins on the legs. There are certain patterns of spider veins on the legs known as matting and patients whose spider veins do not respond to sclerotherapy or those who are needle phobic where laser therapy may be considered. At Vein Specialists of the South, we do offer the latest in laser technology for these patients.
Who Will Perform My Sclerotherapy Treatments?
Dr. Harper or one of our physician assistants or nurses will perform your sclerotherapy treatments. Our providers are fully trained to perform sclerotherapy for spider veins on the legs under the supervision of Dr. Harper and his wife Terri Harper APRN, FNP-C from our sister practice Spa Medical. You can rest assured in the credentials that Dr. Harper and Terri bring to the table. They are the founders of the Comprehensive Vein Training Center and train providers from across the country in the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of spider and varicose veins.
Looking For Spider Vein Treatments In Middle Georgia?
Dr. Kenneth Harper, founder and medical director of Vein Specialists of the South in Macon and Warner Robins, was one of the first surgeons in the United States to focus on the treatment of venous disease. Since 1996, Dr. Harper has dedicated his time and expertise to finding and using only the best technologies for treating varicose and spider veins on the legs, ankles, hands and face. He has since expanded our practice to include treatments for lymphedema and venous ulcers. Dr. Harper and our team of vein specialists also lecture for the American College of Phlebology and educate other physicians from around the world on the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease.
Are you ready to banish your spider veins for good? Contact our vein specialists in Macon and Warner Robins today, and we’ll get you on a treatment plan that is right for you.
