Avoiding Shorts Due to Spider Veins? When to Consider Sclerotherapy

As the weather warms up, it is time to change out your wardrobe from long pants and sweaters to shorts and skirts. While most women look forward to flaunting their spring attire, those who suffer from spider veins may dread the thought of revealing their unsightly legs. If you have spider veins or varicose veins, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, nearly to 55% of women have some type of vein problem. However, that doesn’t mean you have to keep wearing pants through the hot weather. Vein treatments such as sclerotherapy is the perfect solution for confident spring legs!

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is an effective, time-tested procedure that has been used to eliminate spider veins and varicose veins for several decades. It involves a simple, in-office procedure in which a special solution is injected into the targeted veins. The solution forces the vein to close and blood is then rerouted through normal or healthier veins. As the vein collapses, it is resorbed into local tissues until it eventually fades and permanently disappears.

While patients often seek sclerotherapy for cosmetic reasons, this vein removal treatment can also relieve the uncomfortable symptoms that are associated with varicose and spider veins, including aching, swelling, burning, leg heaviness and more. Sclerotherapy can improve your self-confidence as well as your quality of life!

What Are Spider and Varicose Veins?

While often used interchangeable, spider veins and varicose veins are not exactly the same.

Varicose veins are dilated or bulging veins that develop on the lower legs and are purple or blue in color. Spider veins (telangiectasia), however, are tiny blood vessels that are visible because they form close to the skin surface. This network of red, blue or purple veins can form on the legs as well as the face.

Spider veins and varicose veins are both considered a structural abnormality of blood vessels.

They develop from a defect in the veins or valves that results in engorgement and dilation of the blood vessels.

There are certain factors that can predispose a person to varicose and/or spider veins, including the following:

• Heredity
• Obesity
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Postmenopausal hormone replacement
• A history of blood clots
• Increased pressure in the abdomen, caused by tumors, constipation and externally worn garments like girdles

Are You a Candidate?

If the appearance of varicose or spider veins is causing you to feel self-conscious or avoid wearing shorts, skirts or bathing suits, sclerotherapy can be an excellent choice. To learn more about the procedure, including how to prepare and what to expect afterwards, please call Hillcrest Plastic Surgery. We love helping patients feel confident and beautiful in their own skin!