Spider Vein Treatment

Spider Vein Treatment

Living with unsightly spider veins on your legs or unflattering vascular lesions on your face can make you feel like less than your best. Over 50 percent of women and 45 percent of men suffer from venous insufficiency, making spider veins a very common issue. In addition to being a cosmetic annoyance, however, they can also be evidence of a larger problem. Ongoing venous insufficiency can lead to painful symptoms and even dangerous health conditions if left untreated.

You deserve to live your life in total confidence, and the Vein Institute of Pittsburgh is here to help you do so. Dr. Terrance Krysinski and his qualified team of vein experts provide comprehensive vein care for those suffering from venous disease. Using minimally invasive sclerotherapy and advanced light-based therapy, Dr. Krysinski can help you eliminate your unwanted spider veins. More importantly, however, the experts at the Vein Institute of Pittsburgh can help you manage your ongoing venous insufficiency for prolonged results and more successful treatment.

What Causes Spider Veins?

Spider veins are a symptom of venous disease, a common but often benign condition that is especially prevalent among older patients. Venous disease develops when a backflow of blood is created, causing blood to pool in insufficient veins. With nowhere else to go, the excess blood can cause veins to expand, protrude from the skin’s surface and appear darker in color. Some common risk factors for venous disease include:

• A sedentary or unhealthy lifestyle
• Long periods of sitting or standing
• Circulatory changes caused by pregnancy
• Carrying extra weight from obesity
• Weakened veins due to aging
• Increased blood pressure from smoking
• A family history of venous insufficiency

Ultimately, venous disease is not completely avoidable. As the body ages, veins and their one-way valves that are essential for proper circulation will degrade, even among the healthiest individuals. Patients interested in living a happy and healthy life should schedule treatment at the onset of any symptoms. While many patients’ venous insufficiency may only be cosmetic in nature, the potential health complications that can develop from unmanaged venous disease can be serious.

Sclerotherapy: The Leading Spider Vein Treatment

Sclerotherapy is a highly effective, minimally invasive therapy that eliminates spider veins using injections. A medication called sclerosant is injected into the insufficient veins using a very fine needle. Once inside the spider veins, the sclerosant irritates them, causing an inflammatory response that results in the veins collapsing. The treated veins are then naturally absorbed by the body, while blood flow is safely redirected to healthier veins deeper beneath the skin’s surface.

Each sclerotherapy sessions takes an average of only 30 minutes, although appointment times will vary based on each patient’s needs. Most patients find the procedure to be comfortable even without the use of anesthesia due to its minimally invasive nature. Once the spider veins have been treated, patients are free to immediately resume walking and head home. Patients are advised to elevate their feet for a few hours once at home and will be encouraged to walk regularly in the days following their treatment to promote healthy circulation.

Side effects are typically mild and can include swelling, bruising, skin redness, discomfort and itching. Patients are able to resume work the very next day, although exercise and more strenuous activities will need to be avoided for one to two weeks. Patients may also be advised to wear compression garments on their treated legs in order to aid in healthy circulation.

Improvements are typically visible with just a single treatment, although the average patient requires about three to six sessions scheduled two weeks apart for optimal results. Once the spider veins have been eliminated, patients can expect to enjoy smooth, youthful legs well into the future. While the treated spider veins are gone for good, patients are not immune from developing additional spider veins due to a sedentary lifestyle, aging and other factors. Dr. Krysinski works with each of his patients to develop a comprehensive vein care treatment approach that not only eliminates problem veins but also manages venous disease for long-lasting results.

Target Unwanted Facial Veins with Light-Based Therapy

Light-based therapy is an incredibly versatile and effective treatment for a wide variety of cosmetic issues, including facial spider veins. Many patients develop small clusters of broken capillaries and vascular lesions around the nose, cheeks and throughout the face. While sclerotherapy is effective for eliminating spider veins in the lower extremities, light-based therapy is the preferred treatment for targeting facial spider veins.

At the Vein Institute of Pittsburgh, we perform our facial spider vein treatments using the intense pulsed light (IPL) device. This advanced laser device uses thermal energy to heat unwanted blood vessels in the face, causing them to spasm and collapse. The treated veins are then absorbed by the body over a period of several weeks. Each treatment session takes around 15 to 45 minutes and is typically found to be comfortable by most patients.

Exactly how many IPL treatments are necessary will be determined during an in-person consultation with Dr. Krysinski. Sessions can be scheduled four to six weeks apart. Once treated, the spider veins and vascular lesions will gradually fade over the course of several weeks. Patients may schedule repeat appointments as needed should spider veins continue to develop over time. Like sclerotherapy, side effects are minimal and include redness and bruising that will typically fade within one week. Patients are free to resume work, exercise and all normal activities immediately following their IPL treatments.

Dr. Terrance Krysinski: Your Vein Care Physician

At the Vein Institute of Pittsburgh, you can expect exceptional treatment provided by the most qualified professionals. Dr. Krysinski is a board-certified phlebologist who has personally helped many men and women eliminate their unwanted varicose and spider veins, in addition to alleviate the uncomfortable and potentially dangerous symptoms of venous insufficiency. If you have begun to experience symptoms of venous disease or are ready to say goodbye to your spider veins, schedule a consultation at the Vein Institute of Pittsburgh today to learn how we can help you.

Call us today at 724-934-VEIN (8346) to reach our Warrendale location or 412-809-VEIN (8346) for our Robinson location and book your appointment.