Spider Veins

Plastic Surgery in Charleston, SC

Spider veins are thin, dark red or purple lines that appear most commonly on the legs. They can make you feel uncomfortable about the appearance of your legs and cause you to avoid wearing shorts or swimsuits. In the past, there was no way to correct spider veins, but now there are not one, but two different methods for eliminating spider veins. Port City Plastic Surgery offers both sclerotherapy and laser spider vein removal.

If you feel uncomfortable about the appearance of spider veins on your legs, please call or email Port City Plastic Surgery today to learn about your options for spider vein removal.

Risk Factors for Spider Veins

Spider veins affect 80 million or more Americans. Your likelihood of getting spider veins increases with age. Women are more likely to get spider veins than men. Likelihood of getting spider veins also increases with weight gain, pregnancy, and use of some medications like birth control, estrogen replacement therapy, and corticosteroids. The main risk factor, though, is genetic. If your parents had spider veins, you are likely to get them, too.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy treats spider veins by injecting them with a compound that obliterates them from the inside out. The veins collapse and the body removes them. After the injection, you will wear a compression dressing on the treated area, and you are asked to avoid strenuous activity for 2-5 days. You may have some bruising, and you should avoid sun exposure to the treated areas until bruising goes away. Most people need 2-4 treatments to achieve optimal results.

Laser Vein Removal

Laser vein removal uses a vascular-specific laser similar to that used for vascular birthmark removal. The specific frequency of light emitted by the laser is absorbed by blood vessels more than skin or other tissues. This obliterates the spider veins, which are then reabsorbed by the body. A contact cooling feature of the handpiece increases comfort during treatment. Treatments take about 30 minutes, although they may be longer or shorter depending on the area to be treated, and 2-4 treatments are normally required for optimal effect.

If you would like to learn more about spider vein treatment and which of these two options might be best for you, please contact Port City Plastic Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina.