Spider & Varicose Veins

Occupations that require long periods of standing, including retail sales, airline attendants, teaching or nursing, are also common factors in the formation of spider or varicose veins.

Large veins can form on the face but more typically develop on the legs, hands, and chest. They are often swollen and appear raised on the surface of the skin while twisting just below the surface. They swell as a result of an abnormal value within the vein, reversing the flow of blood and increasing the pressure inside the vessel, leading to the development of new veins downstream.

Spider veins, also called varicose veins, appear as small, branch-like veins in various parts of the body, most commonly on the legs, hands, and even face. Spider veins are often blue, red, or purple in appearance, though this can vary from patient to patient. Although smaller and not as risky to one’s health, they may be unsightly. Due to the nature of these veins, they can cause cosmetic dissatisfaction and make one self-conscious; they can complicate one’s health, as well, because the unhealthy veins are taking blood from surrounding healthy veins. They may also cause pain by irritating sensory nerves.

Unwanted spider veins occur as a result of valves in our veins malfunctioning and not flowing properly. When the blood ‘builds up’, a new segment of the vein can form, resulting in a spider vein. It’s important to understand spider veins are not necessary, and their removal will not affect your body. In fact, because spider veins and varicose veins actually work to draw blood away from the heart, their diminishment can actually improve circulation and make patients feel much better.

Neither spider veins nor varicose veins are necessary, so removing them will not impact one’s body other than achieving clear, smooth skin. In fact, most people say that their legs feel better and lighter after removal of the unwanted veins because normal blood flow is reestablished.

At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, the best leg vein doctors in San Diego can treat your leg veins with sclerotherapy, phlebectomy or lasers. Since each patient is unique we will assess which leg vein treatments will be best for you during your initial leg vein consultation.

Trust CLDerm for Your Vein Treatment

Dr. Mitchel Goldman literally wrote the book on sclerotherapy and teaches physicians around the world with his advanced techniques.  While the procedure may sound simple, it is actually very complex. It is imperative you see a doctor who knows how to properly locate the start of the vein to ensure the sclerotherapy procedure successfully collapses the entire vein. Since Dr. Goldman is a world-authority on sclerotherapy, you know you’re in good hands!

CLDerm’s own Dr. Mitchel Goldman is, in fact, a widely acclaimed expert in the field of veins and sclerotherapy vein treatments and has written or lectured extensively on these and related vascular topics, publishing multiple medical textbooks on the subject in 5 languages, some now in their 6th edition.

Sclerotherapy is the ideal treatment for anyone wanting a safe, successful, minimally invasive treatment for unsightly veins. Patients with busy schedules or with an aversion to surgery are often well suited to the simple vein treatment.

During a sclerotherapy treatment, a hardening solution (FDA-approved Asclera™ or Sotradecol™ or a glycerin solution) is injected directly into the vein, which causes it to dissolve. The vessel turns into hardened scar tissue over a few weeks and then slowly dissolves over a few months. After treatment, your leg is wrapped up in compression bandages or a stocking to keep slight pressure on the area. Our doctors advise sclerotherapy patients to walk as often as possible for 2 weeks after the initial sclerotherapy treatment to allow the medication to flow through the vein.

The number of spider vein treatments depends on the extent of veins. A general guideline is 2-3 sessions to achieve the best results but a single sclerotherapy session can destroy up to 90% of the injected veins. For the smaller spider veins, final results can be seen within two months while the larger varicose veins typically respond in 3-4 months. Results vary from patient to patient, depending on the severity of the vein issue, the number of injections, and patient overall health.

Potential Side Effects

With sclerotherapy, the chances of serious side effects are extremely rare, especially in the hands of world-class dermatologists. Once the 15-30 minute procedure is finished, downtime is virtually nonexistent, as most patients go back to their normal day. The most common side effects reported are mild redness, itching, and bruising. All side effects usually disappear within a week.

Read more about treating unwanted veins with a sclerosing agent, visit WebMD.com.

Phlebectomy

A phlebectomy, also called an ambulatory phlebectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure ideal for individuals dealing with superficial or extremely pertinent varicose veins of the legs that are larger than the size of a finger. These veins are usually bulging at the surface of the skin. Our dermatologists perform a phlebectomy by making a few very small incisions near the site of the veins and then removing them. This is an extremely safe procedure and is a great option for individuals struggling with larger and more noticeable varicose veins.