Spider Veins

What are spider veins?
Many people suffer from the appearance of unsightly veins on their legs or face. Spider veins are distinguished as small, thin broken capillaries. These are the veins that are most easily treated, but are sometimes confused with larger, often raised and textured, varicose veins. Treatment of these usually needs to be conducted by a plastic surgeon or varicose vein specialist.

Spider veins may appear as a result of several factors, including pregnancy, being on your feet for lengths of time, weight gain, or simply genetics. These situations can create a build-up of blood that blocks the blood stream. To release this pressure, the body forms new veins. These newly-formed "spider veins" are usually aesthetically unappealing, and can also be a cause of achiness and cramping.

How does are spider veins treated?
Our specialists usually turn to one of two methods of treatment for removing or diminishing the appearance of spider veins and broken capillaries. These options include a laser-assisted treatment, or an intense light treatment called Blue Light Therapy.

When a laser is used to treat the veins, results are seen gradually with each treatment, but further treatments are recommended for effectiveness and maintenance. The laser is directed at the area of the vein, penetrating the skin. As the laser light is absorbed beneath the skin, it is converted to heat, raising the temperature of the blood vessel, and then safely coagulating the blood. This causes the vessel to slowly fade and eventually disappear. There is no recovery time involved in laser vein treatment.

Blue Light Therapy is performed in a series of usually about 3-6 treatments. Intense light rays are emitted over the face, heating the capillaries and other pigmented material on the skin's surface. This either absorbs or evaporates the color and forms micro pores in the capillaries that cause them to shrink. There is minimal downtime involved with Blue Light Therapy. Most patients are usually back to work the same day as their treatment, or the day following.