Vein Removal

What is

Vein Removal?

Many men and women are bothered by clusters of red, blue or purple veins that appear on the thighs, calves and ankles. There are many factors that cause these veins, known as telangiectasias, to develop including heredity, pregnancy, hormonal influences, obesity and prolonged standing and sitting. Spider veins of the legs take on one of three shapes; spider shape with a group of veins radiating out from the center, barbarizing (sunburst appearing) or linear. Varicose veins are larger, darker in color and usually bulging. Treatment options for spider veins include sclerotherapy, involving the injection of a specialized solution to collapse the veins, and laser vein removal. Very often a treatment regimen consists of both procedures.

Laser Treatments

For Leg Veins & Spider Veins

Satin Med Spa uses the most advanced laser technology for vein removal in Charlotte, NC. Depending on the severity of the veins, three to four treatments may be needed to achieve optimal results. There is some discomfort during the procedure but this usually dissipates by the time the patient leaves the clinic. Patients can return to normal activity immediately following treatment. For larger veins, over 3mm, other forms of therapy are recommended. For tiny veins which are unable to be treated with sclerotherapy, laser is the best treatment.

 

New technology in laser vein removal treatment can effectively treat spider veins on the legs of patients with all skin types. Laser treatments deliver intense pulses of light energy into the veins and this causes them to fade and disappear. This procedure appeals to many patients because it does not use needles. Vein removal treatments can be done quickly and with minimal downtime.

 

With laser treatment, a laser is directed on the skin over the spider veins. Laser energy causes the veins to coagulate and shrink. Laser therapy is most effective for small and medium size spider veins. Large spider veins respond poorly and are best treated with sclerotherapy. Patients are likely to experience mild discomfort similar to having a small rubber band snapping against the skin.

 

Immediately following treatment, spider veins will be darker and more visible. Over two to six weeks, the treated veins will fade. After each treatment, there should be about a 70% to 80% improvement in the appearance of the treated spider veins. An average of three treatments will be required at three-month intervals to produce desired results. Combination therapy can be considered and beneficial if you have a combination of small, medium and large spider veins. You may wish to start with sclerotherapy, because sometimes all veins will be improved after injecting the larger ones. This may reduce the number of veins that need to be treated by laser and minimize the overall cost.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy involves injections of a specialized sclerosing agent which collapses the veins, causing them to fade away. It normally takes a series of treatments spaced about four to six weeks apart to achieve optimal results. Additional veins may develop over time and thus the need for maintenance treatments may be needed.

 

A sclerotherapy session takes about twenty minutes during which time a series injections are made into the unwanted veins. After treatment, tight fitting support hose are recommended to be worn for a period of time. Walking is encouraged in the post operative period. It is common for the treatment area to look worse before it improves, with bruises and brown discoloration for a period of time. Once the compression dressings are removed, you will notice bruising and reddish areas at the injection sites. The bruises will diminish over time, usually within a month. In some cases, there may be some residual brownish pigmentation which may take up to a year to completely fade.