Menu
Many men and women develop leg veins that are bothersome in appearance and can have some pain associated also They may be purplish or red/pink spider veins, larger blue reticulate veins.
Several factors may play a role in the development of leg veins. Often there is a genetic predisposition to the development of veins. Hormones at puberty or pregnancy and the use of birth control or hormonal replacement may play a role in the development of spider veins.
Occasionally, veins may cause an aching sensation of pain. Exercise, normal weight maintenance and support hose may help to minimize veins.
At Laser Advantage, we treat spider and reticular veins with Sclerotherapy or a laser treatment. The treatment of spider veins usually involves a surgical procedure such as stripping or radio frequency treatment.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the vein with a very fine needle. The solution irritates the lining of the vein, the walls, and stick together and blood cannot enter the vein.
Blood is re-routed to the healthy venous system and the vein is then absorbed over time. Many veins are injected during a treatment session, but usually many sessions are required, depending on the size and number of veins.
Most patients have a 50-90% improvement but more veins can develop with time.
Avoid direct, excessive sun exposure or tanning one month prior to treatment.
During treatment there will be a bright flash of light that feels like a light elastic sensation. Redness and a slight warming of the skin are normal after treatment and usually subsides within an hour. Over the next 24-48 hours you may see a darkening of pigmented spots; in the week afterwards the pigmented lesions flake off, which leads to a more even skin tone. After treating vascular lesions you may see the vein blanch and disappear or a colour change in the vessel which dissipates after a few days.
An improved skin appearance can be noted after the first session. Multiple sessions provide best results. Treatment regime depends on the severity of skin damage, skin type, type of treatment (vascular vs sun damage) and energy settings.
Sun damage and skin complexion results can be seen a few days after the first session. The skin will continue to look younger and more brilliant over time with most visible results after 1-2 weeks. Having multiple photofacial sessions will improve the final result. For vascular treatments such as spider or leg veins, results can be seen in up to 2 weeks.
Most patients do not experience any side effects and any skin reaction usually resolves within a few hours. Patients may find they are sensitive to sunlight immediately after treatment. It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight and tanning.