Unsightly veins on the legs can make it difficult to wear certain clothing. You may try hiding your legs to make them less visible. In some cases, the veins also cause pain. Otherwise called varicose and spider veins, these issues are generally cosmetic in nature. However, they can also be the sign of more serious problems. Cosmetic treatments are now available to treat problematic veins, which can make your legs more attractive while boosting your self-esteem.
What Are Varicose & Spider Veins?
Varicose and spider veins both represent veins that have suffered some type of damage. In healthy veins, valves inside the veins push blood in a single direction, mainly back to our heart. When the valves weaken for whatever reason, blood can flow backward, causing a buildup. With too much pressure, the vein walls can begin to bulge, causing what we all know to be varicose or spider veins.
If you don’t know the difference between the two types of veins, you’re not alone. Some people use the two terms interchangeably. Here are the facts.
- Varicose veins are raised and swollen blood vessels that twist and turn underneath the skin. In some cases, varicose veins cause pain.
- Spider veins look similar to varicose veins except they tend to be smaller in size and in different hues, including blue, purple, or red.
- Varicose veins also tend to hurt and are larger and deeper while spider veins are more superficial and cause no pain at all.
- Other than visual cues, both vein conditions can also be accompanied by leg muscle cramps, tiredness in the legs, swollen ankles/or legs, and leg throbbing, burning, or itching.
If you remain unsure of what type of vein problem you are suffering from, the best course of action is to schedule a consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon, such as Dr. Babak Moein of Moein Surgical Arts in Los Angeles, California. A cosmetic specialist like Dr. Moein can examine your veins and help you determine the best course of treatment that might be right for you.
What Causes These Unsightly Vein Issues?
Both varicose and spider veins originate from the same general issue, which is problematic or non-functioning valves of the blood vessels. Some people are at higher risk, such as if you are blood-related to someone who has them. Some people develop them from sitting or standing for long periods of time throughout the week, though they can also be exacerbated by age or during pregnancy.
Spider veins can be caused by hormonal changes, injury, and sunlight. Spider veins can also be worsened by conditions like heredity, obesity, menopause, and pregnancy.
Are Varicose and Spider Veins Considered Serious Conditions?
In most cases, these veins represent cosmetic issues only. However, larger veins can be the sign of a serious underlying problem.
What Treatments Are Available for Varicose & Spider Veins?
You can attempt to reverse the appearance of varicose and spider veins by engaging in self-care. Tips to include with your daily regimen include exercise, elevating your legs, moving around every thirty minutes if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, and avoiding soaking in hot baths for long periods of time. These tips can prevent new veins from forming but they cannot get rid of existing varicose or spider veins. For existing veins, only cosmetic vein treatments can help.
Fractora Non-Invasive Skin Renovation
This skin resurfacing treatment coagulates tissue underneath the skin, making it effective to treat varicose and spider veins. Fractora is also commonly used to treat acne scars, wrinkles, and other skin problems, such as issues with skin pigmentation.
The cosmetic procedure toes the line between being a fractional laser and a surgical procedure. Considered non-surgical in nature, Fractora delivers radiofrequency energy that extends to various depths beneath the skin. A hand-held wand is used with a series of pin electrodes attached. These pins are applied directly to the skin, whereby the tissue is heated both on top and underneath the skin. The high heat coagulates and ablates the tissue, which leads to rejuvenation and contraction of the skin. The results are safe, effective, and proven to work.
Lumecca IPL Spider Vein Treatments
Lumecca is a cosmetic treatment that originates from a company called InMode. The procedure uses IPL or intense pulsed light to restore and rejuvenate problem skin. A single treatment can visibly reduce varicose and spider veins. Surgeons can also use Lumecca IPL to treat acne scars, age spots, and other vascular lesions.
Light pulse technologies like Lumecca offer dramatic improvements quickly, which makes this treatment a favorite among cosmetic surgeons looking to treat varicose and spider veins.
The technique uses photo rejuvenation and a handheld flashgun to send pulses of intense light directly to the problematic veins. The best part about Lumecca is that there is little downtime and yet you get to experience dramatic results. What makes Lumecca a favorite among patients is that the device comes complete with a refined cooling technology, making it safer and more comfortable than other IPL devices.
CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing
Yet another minimally invasive technique for problematic veins is one that you may have heard about before. CO2 fractional resurfacing has long been used to restore the signs of youth to the face and other parts of the body. Turns out, the procedure is also handy for shrinking the appearance of pesky varicose and spider veins.
Lasers are one of the most exciting developments in the cosmetic world. Advanced techniques such as the CO2 fractional laser are now available for rejuvenating and resurfacing skin.
Laser technology can reach deep down into the skin. It’s more effective than chemical peels or microdermabrasion and lasers require less downtime than other similar treatments. The technique involves treating the veins with carbon dioxide lasers directly. Doing so ablates the veins, which vaporizes the skin a single layer at a time. Heating the veins causes the tissues on and around them to coagulate, which diminishes the unsightly appearance of the veins while stimulating new collagen growth. The treatment takes only minutes to complete and will feel as though you have a sunburn around the area for at least a few days. The surgeon will use anesthetic cream during the treatment, so don’t worry about any discomfort.
You may require additional CO2 laser treatments, depending on the severity of your vein problem. The treatments can be spaced out in six-month intervals. Over time, your skin will appear brighter, and your veins will begin to disappear, leaving healthy, younger-looking skin behind.
Say Goodbye to Varicose and Spider Veins by Scheduling a Consultation
You now have several treatments to request when varicose or spider veins have you feeling self-conscious about your legs. Imagine seeing smooth, younger skin where your problematic veins used to be. You can have your veins diagnosed so that you know which type of issues you are suffering from by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Babak Moein of Moein Surgical Arts.
Dr. Moein will invite you to visit his certified surgical center, which he uses to serve patients throughout the Los Angeles, Encino, and Glendale areas. After conducting a physical examination, Dr. Moein will be in a better position to recommend the ideal treatment for your varicose or spider veins. If you are self-conscious about your legs, this may be the most important phone call you make all year. Pick up the phone and call today – (310)694-4486.