Spider veins are more common to women than men and since they are more concerned about how their legs look, it is important to know what spider vein treatments are available.
The most popular one is scelotherapy. Here, the doctor will inject a solution to the veins which is designed to make the spider vein disappear within a few weeks or months. You have to go back for two to six sessions to make them go away and this is usually done in an outpatient setting. The best part about this treatment is that it is painless.
You also have radiofrequency occlusion. This is where a small catheter is inserted into the vein. Once inside, it delivers radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to heat, collapse, and seal shut. This is over in a matter of minutes which is why like sclerotherapy, it is done in an outpatient setting. You have the option to be given local anesthesia to offset the pain.
If the veins are too big and things are worse than before, your doctor will have to perform surgery. You will come in and then the doctor will remove the vein. This may be done with general, local or spinal anesthesia and if it is done in the morning, you can go home in the afternoon.
Laser treatment is another option. Here, the doctor will use heat energy to destroy abnormal veins. You just have to stay still so the target is destroyed without causing any collateral damage to the nearby tissues. You should expect your skins color to change or have blister formation.
But are these spider vein treatments really necessary? The answer is no because it is not life threatening. If you feel embarrassed about showing your legs in public, then you have to do it as long as you are able to pay for the cost.
How much you will be paying varies. It depends on the procedure, how many veins will be worked on, the professional fee of the doctor and where it is done. You can expect the cost of any of these treatments to be more expensive in a city like Los Angeles or New York compared to other places that also offer it.
When you are looking for a doctor make sure he or she is certified and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
To help pay for it, you can check with your insurance provider if they will be able to shoulder it but a lot of companies will disagree. You have to remember that this is merely a cosmetic problem and it is only when your doctor thinks that this is necessary that your request will be approved.
Before you can undergo any form of treatment, you will first be given a physical exam to see if there will be any complications. Women who are nursing or are pregnant are not allowed to do so and the same goes for those who have circulatory problems, suffering from diabetes or any heart condition.
Spider vein treatments are a god send especially for those who want to look good whenever they have to show some skin. If money is not an issue, you can try one of the options mentioned as long as you do not have any medical problems which you hinder the healing process.