Veins are defined as blood vessels responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood from the body to your lungs and heart. However, when veins become thick with all the turns and twists they become enlarged and are referred to as varicose or most commonly Spider Veins. It is usually the "nervures" located in the thighs and legs that become varicosed.
Here are five of the best spider vein treatments:
Sclerotherapy
This is the most common treatment during which salt solutions are injected into the affected vein. This makes the vein walls swell, then stick and finally seal shut. Once there is no more blood flowing into these veins they become scar tissue and slowly fade away in a few weeks. Many times you'll need to get treated more than once to achieve successful removal. But since it is not a painful process it does not require anesthesia and can be carried out by your doctor at his office.
Laser leg vein treatment
This is one of the latest methods for treating this condition. During treatment strong bursts of laser light are passed through the vein which make it disappear. Since, lasers are known to be accurate and direct it removes veins quickly and more effectively. However, patients have been known to feel some painful heat sensation which doctors tend to reduce using various cooling methods. That being said laser surgery is not advisable for veins larger than 3mm.
Endovenous methods
This method combines radio frequency and laser technology to effectively treat spider veins. A micro sized catheter is first placed into the affected vein. The device then sends laser energy which shrinks and finally seals the vein wall.
Surgery
Surgery is used to remove large spider veins. A doctor will surgically seal shut the vein and remove it from the leg. However, doctors will only be able to remove veins which are located near the surface of the skin, ones which are responsible for collecting blood from the skin.
Endoscopic vein surgery
This type of leg vein treatment utilizes a tiny camera that looks inside of the veins after which these are removed by small cuts. This procedure like surgery needs to be carried out under anesthesia but patients will return to their normal routine within a few weeks.
Regardless, of what form of treatment you opt for to treat leg veins there is a chance that it will return after a few years. The easiest and probably the most effective way of preventing this condition from developing is to wear graduated compression support socks / stockings. The more frequently you're able to wear these stockings the longer it will take for the veins to form.
