Spider veins anyone?
- Thread starter Alexis52
- Start date
I have the same problem. I would like to hear what others have to say. I understand that there is a procedure with some injection the Dr. give it to you right on the area the spider veins are located... not sure what it is called. My problem is that I'm always affraid of trying things that are not natural.
Yadira
Yadira
CathydsRNA
Cathlete
Hi, nix the Vitamin K idea. DOES NOT WORK! However, I had laser treatments at a dermatologist's office. Worked like a charm. There is some redness and the spider veins are somewhat raised for a couple days after the treatment, but within several weeks the treated veins disappear. Some individuals requires a couple of treatments. The treatments pinch a little bit at first, but like tweezing your eyebrows...you eventually get used to it. Cathy
:7
:7
icklemoley
Cathlete
I had laser treatment for the broken veins on my face, and though they were red for a few days, once that is gone, no more veins, or shoudl i say, alot less than before. My veins had broken under my eyes and they always looked red now they aren't very noticeable.
I developed quite a few spider veins (we call them thread veins in the UK) in my thighs when I was about 19 years old, and I believe it is genetic, not just age. I'm 31 now, and they haven't got any worse which is good. However, I've been considering lately that I might go and see a private specialist and have something done about them. It just seems such a shame that I keep myself looking fit, but still cover up my legs in the summer.
Sharon
x
Sharon
x
icklemoley
Cathlete
Do it Do it Do it. It cost me £200 for my face, and it was so well spent. Better to get rid of them then hide them. It did hurt alittle bit but nothing bad. I'm going back (when my tan has gone) to get the ones on my nose done. Fabulous! x
I would agree with Wayne! It was definitely worth it for me to have my vein done. I have hidden my legs under tights, pants etc. for years and it feels wonderful to not have to do that anymore. I still have some bruising from the procedure (which is very normal), but it is already fading and even with the bruising looks MUCH better than the vein did. It cost me US$275 for a half hour session--it involved several injections, but I only had the one large, dark blue, popping vein, so probably won't have to have another session. 
The pain was just from the injections themselves and a little burning the first day from the saline solution.
The pain was just from the injections themselves and a little burning the first day from the saline solution.Alexis,
I'm an RN and worked for a vein clinic for awhile. (now back in CCU/ICU) We did sclerotherapy (injection of the veins with a solution) and also laser therapy. The Dr. I worked for is also a vascular specialist and would perform an ultrasound if there were large varicose veins to determine if there was an underlying problem. (usually one of the bigger leg veins such as the saphenous vein becomes incompentent and blood falls back through the venous system and pools, creating varicose and spider veins. If you have an underlying problem it doesn't matter how much you treat the veins, they will keep coming back. Most people don't have an underlying problem. In those cases we had good success with the injections and laser. The more there are, the longer they've been there and the bigger they are, the more treatments it requires. I did have an underlying problem with a deep reticular vein and had a procedure called "venous closure" done. It was well worth it. It is expensive, however I didn't pay much since I worked there. I've had quite a bit of work done, both spiders, and a large painful varicose vein, and am very happy with the way my legs look and feel. It took more than one treatment. It can be very expensive. Shop around and look at the Drs. credentials. Above all - be realistic. Your legs won't ever be "perfect". Good luck in this and if I can give you any more info let me know. You might look on the internet to vascular specialists in your area.
Lynn
I'm an RN and worked for a vein clinic for awhile. (now back in CCU/ICU) We did sclerotherapy (injection of the veins with a solution) and also laser therapy. The Dr. I worked for is also a vascular specialist and would perform an ultrasound if there were large varicose veins to determine if there was an underlying problem. (usually one of the bigger leg veins such as the saphenous vein becomes incompentent and blood falls back through the venous system and pools, creating varicose and spider veins. If you have an underlying problem it doesn't matter how much you treat the veins, they will keep coming back. Most people don't have an underlying problem. In those cases we had good success with the injections and laser. The more there are, the longer they've been there and the bigger they are, the more treatments it requires. I did have an underlying problem with a deep reticular vein and had a procedure called "venous closure" done. It was well worth it. It is expensive, however I didn't pay much since I worked there. I've had quite a bit of work done, both spiders, and a large painful varicose vein, and am very happy with the way my legs look and feel. It took more than one treatment. It can be very expensive. Shop around and look at the Drs. credentials. Above all - be realistic. Your legs won't ever be "perfect". Good luck in this and if I can give you any more info let me know. You might look on the internet to vascular specialists in your area.
Lynn
Thanks Lynn! Maybe I'm talking about something different, though. I wouldn't dream of surgery for what I've got. I have a purple/blue little spidery looking thing about the size of a dime or nickel. Actually I have two and they are both on the same leg. However, you could answer this for me: Either I have a varicose vein or a very protruding vein right on the shin bone of the same calf. But I thought varicose veins were on the inside or back of the calf or leg. My mom's were so horrible, she had surgery 30 years ago. So is mine varicose or just a vein going over the bone? I know that my veins are close to the surface in general but I thought maybe you could give me your expertise. Thanks again, Alexis
icklemoley
Cathlete
I had in done in Cardiff, but i forget the name now, but i'll be going back shortly for the one's on my nose and the final ones under my eyes. After it was done i was a little worried as the area was very red and i thought "oh great, this looks worse now" but once it calmed down, i was very very happy with the results. Plus i did a mini eye peal www.skinculture.com that helped remove a little hyperpigmination. Fab! x
Alexis,
It really depends on the size as to what the veins are termed. It sounds like you probably have a small area of spider veins (a little cluster) or perhaps a raised reticular vein. Varicosities can be anywhere on the leg, some people even develop them in their groin, vaginal, and lower abdominal areas. Varicose veins really tend to bulge out and you can actually run your hand over the skin and feel it protruding. This is a result of blood backing up and pooling in the vein,pressure builds and the vein bulges. Some of the things that cause vein problems: hormones, weight, heredity, injury to the area. It's hard for me to know exactly what you have,since I can't see it, obviously, but what you are describing doesn't sound like anything too extensive.
There are a lot of good Physician's and clinics to treat these. But ask for credentials and it doesn't hurt to compare prices. We had photos of many customers before and after (without showing their face and with their consent) Get a couple of opinions. Some places require a consultation fee. At our clinic we always applied the consultation fee towards any work done. We saw the best success with sclerotherapy (we used polidochanol-a soap based solution) in combination with lasers. We used different lasers for different sizes and depths of veins.
If you are going to have something done do it before the really warm weather. Most places want you to wear compression hose for a week or two post treatment. Lasers are also contraindicated on tanned skin. It can hypopigment the skin causing white areas. I had to wait a couple of days before working out. I just did upper body those days. And, it always looks really bad at first, then as it heals looks better.
Good luck!
Lynn
It really depends on the size as to what the veins are termed. It sounds like you probably have a small area of spider veins (a little cluster) or perhaps a raised reticular vein. Varicosities can be anywhere on the leg, some people even develop them in their groin, vaginal, and lower abdominal areas. Varicose veins really tend to bulge out and you can actually run your hand over the skin and feel it protruding. This is a result of blood backing up and pooling in the vein,pressure builds and the vein bulges. Some of the things that cause vein problems: hormones, weight, heredity, injury to the area. It's hard for me to know exactly what you have,since I can't see it, obviously, but what you are describing doesn't sound like anything too extensive.
There are a lot of good Physician's and clinics to treat these. But ask for credentials and it doesn't hurt to compare prices. We had photos of many customers before and after (without showing their face and with their consent) Get a couple of opinions. Some places require a consultation fee. At our clinic we always applied the consultation fee towards any work done. We saw the best success with sclerotherapy (we used polidochanol-a soap based solution) in combination with lasers. We used different lasers for different sizes and depths of veins.
If you are going to have something done do it before the really warm weather. Most places want you to wear compression hose for a week or two post treatment. Lasers are also contraindicated on tanned skin. It can hypopigment the skin causing white areas. I had to wait a couple of days before working out. I just did upper body those days. And, it always looks really bad at first, then as it heals looks better.
Good luck!
Lynn
Lynn: Would you say the laser or the injections are better? I did the injections a year ago with good success, but need to do it again (it was just one treatment and I should have done more at the time). I want to do it again, but don't know if I should look into laser instead. Thanks!
We found that treating with both sclerotherapy and laser worked well. The injections for some veins and the laser for others. Some Drs. don't use the lasers, but strictly use sclerotherapy. Some won't use them at the same time. The lasers are not painless, even with numbing cream applied beforehand, but I feel it's worth the bit of pain. More than one treatment may be needed with either sclerotherapy or lasers, or both.
Good luck!
Lynn
Good luck!
Lynn
Lynn,
Is there anyway someone can prevent getting spiderveins early on or is it that if you get them you get them and nothing you can do about it?
I've heard that stimulating circulation with leg exercises from sitting or standing too long of a time helps, and using lotion on your legs in a circular motion helps too. Is this true?
Is there anyway someone can prevent getting spiderveins early on or is it that if you get them you get them and nothing you can do about it?
I've heard that stimulating circulation with leg exercises from sitting or standing too long of a time helps, and using lotion on your legs in a circular motion helps too. Is this true?
Wearing support hose (the medical grade kind) while working (if you stand a lot) can help prevent. Keeping a healthy weight, not having children helps(because of hormones and also the pressure of uterous on the large veins) You can't change your heredity, of course, and men certainly have far fewer problems with this than women, probably due, in large, to hormones. I haven't heard any medical benefit to using lotions or massage. If you sit at a desk job or fly a lot it is good to do "calf pumps" to stimulate the muscles, which helps blood to flow, rather than "pool" in the veins. Those are the main things I know.
Lynn
Lynn