Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center of Houston, Texas

As we grow older, many of us tend to notice small clusters of red, blue or purple veins on our thighs, calves and ankles. These unsightly problems, known as spider veins, are caused by a number of factors, including heredity and pregnancy. Just the sight of them would make us want to cover our legs and become very self-conscious when going out to public places like the beach. Not only can this make legs appear unattractive, bothersome symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling and night cramps are associated with these spider veins.

Spider vein removal, or sclerotherapy, is a procedure designed to permanently remove these spider veins, leaving your legs looking younger and healthier. This involves either delivering intense pulsed light to the veins, or through injections of a sclerosing solution that collapses these veins and causes them to fade away.

Even though spider vein removal has been performed for many years in Europe, only recently has this procedure gained popularity in the United States, becoming quite a trend in cosmetic surgery. In 2003, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 480,000 spider vein removal procedures were performed in the United States alone.

With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including spider vein removal, it is important that the prospective patient research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat, inherent risks, costs, and other factors. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that � a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to spider vein removal, when considering this or any other cosmetic procedure, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience. Some important elements you should understand regarding spider vein removal include the following:

Types of Veins:

Spider veins: Known medically as telangiectasias or sunburst varicosities, these tiny veins are connected to the larger venous system, but are not an essential part of it, so health risks are not a major factor in spider vein removal. These are small, red, blue, or purple blood vessels that lie close to the skin. Spider veins can appear in a spider-like shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point. They may also appear as tiny-branch like shapes, or appear as linear spider veins.
Varicose veins: These are different from spider veins because they are larger, darker in color, and tend to bulge. Varicose veins are also more likely to cause pain and be related to more serious vein disorders. While sclerotherapy can treat certain cases of varicose veins, surgical treatment is often necessary.

Types of Treatment:

Spider veins can be treated through either laser or injection therapy.

Laser Light Therapy: First the practitioner must identify the veins to be treated. The larger veins are usually treated first. During this procedure, a dosage of intense laser light energy is delivered to each vein. In a series of long or short pulses, the blood vessels absorb the light energy. This causes the blood within the vein to coagulate and close down the vein. Improvement is noticeable after one or two treatments.

Injection Sclerotherapy: Each treatment session lasts about 15 to 45 minutes depending on the condition of the veins. The treatment area is first cleansed with an antiseptic solution. While stretching the skin to keep it taut, the doctor or nurse then injects the sclerosing agent into the spider veins. To ensure precision, bright, indirect light and magnification is used. The spider vein removal involves many injections, one for each inch of spider vein. Anywhere from five to 40 injections may occur during treatment. However pain is minimal, so no anesthesia is used. Patients only feel a slight needle prick.

What are the costs associated with spider vein removal?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for spider vein removal is $323. Fees within various regions may vary depending on whether the doctor�s practice is in an urban, suburban or rural area. This fee only covers the physician�s costs, and does not include other miscellaneous costs. Also, the fee varies with the type of technique used for treatment. Plus, this fee is only for one treatment -- two or more sessions are usually needed for optimal results. A comprehensive cost figure may be obtained while consulting with the physician. Make sure this figure includes any and all associated costs.

Unfortunately most medical insurance providers do not cover cosmetic surgery procedures. However, most surgeons do offer multiple financing options. Click here for our pricing.

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