Spider Vein Treatments

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are formed by the dilation of a small group of blood vessels located close to the surface of the skin. Although they can appear anywhere on the body, they are most commonly found on the face and legs and look like red or purple sunbursts or web patterns. The exact cause of spider veins is unknown, although heredity, pregnancy and hormonal changes are believed to be contributing factors.

How are spider veins treated?

Laser Treatments: Tiny capillaries on the face, usually located on the cheeks and nose, can often be treated with a vascular laser. The treatment takes only a few minutes and is nearly pain free. The area treated often turns pink and usually resolves in a couple of days. Although laser treatments are highly successful, a small percentage of patients require a second treatment to eliminate the spider veins.

Schlerotherapy: Spider veins on the legs are usually larger and deeper than those on the face, and often require schlerotherapy rather than laser treatment. Schlerotherapy is a safe and effective procedure that can be performed in our office with minimal discomfort. A concentrated saline or specifically developed chemical solution is injected with a tiny needle into the spider vein. The solution causes the vein to close up or collapse and become scar tissue that eventually is absorbed by the body. The number of treatments necessary depends upon the number of spider veins present.