What are Vein Conditions?
With time and aging, the veins in our tissues tend to undergo changes in their structural strength and develop floppy valves. As these changes occur, sometimes the blood may begin to pool in certain areas, causing the veins to bulge and appear more prominently through the skin. These pesky veins are known as spider veins in smaller blood vessels and capillaries, and they’re known as varicose veins in larger blood vessels. From a medical perspective, they usually don’t cause too much harm. They can be mildly painful in certain cases and may cause irritation to the surrounding skin, but they are often benign. From a cosmetic perspective however, they can be quite troublesome as they can be very disruptive to the skin’s clear and even complexion.
What causes Vein Conditions?
In our bodies, complex vascular networks supply the tissues with nutrients, oxygen, and more. These blood vessels are designed to carry out this task as efficiently as possible, complete with valves that prevent blood backflow to ensure everything is moving along nicely. Unfortunately, with time these networks can begin to experience changes that render them less effective. As the valves inside the vessels become less efficient or as the vessel walls lose their integrity, blood can begin to pool in certain areas causing the veins to bulge and appear much more pronounced through the skin layers. This is how spider veins and varicose veins can form.
What treatments are available for Vein Conditions?
The superior treatments for these vein conditions are the YAG Laser and Sclerotherapy.
YAG Laser
YAG Laser is a cutting edge laser system that works wonders on spider veins. By using laser wavelengths that specifically target blood vessels, the veins can be heated and destroyed without having any effect on the surrounding skin. As the body cleans up these vessels naturally, the appearance of the veins subsides and the skin’s even tone and surface is restored.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is another powerful treatment for varicose and spider veins that involves the injection of sclerosants (special solutions). These sclerosants disrupt the blood vessel walls causing them to constrict and shrink. By targeting bulging, dilated varicose and spider veins, sclerosants can be used to selectively reduce their appearance by initiating their constriction, shrinking them out of sight.
What should I expect with the treatment?
To start, you and Dr. Brandish will develop an individualized treatment plan to determine what treatment may be most effective for your individual case. We encourage you to visit the links to the treatments above for more in-depth and specific treatment expectations.
Vein Treatment Summary
When blood vessel walls and valves begin to weaken due to age, lifestyle, genetic, or other factors, blood tends to pool in certain areas. This causes the veins to bulge and dilate, making them visible from the skin’s surface, which can be highly unwanted cosmetically. At Brandish Clinic, we use advanced solutions like the YAG laser or sclerotherapy to shrink or destroy unwanted spider and varicose veins, restoring the skin’s even, youthful tone and surface.
How do I get started with Vein Treatment?
If you’re interested in hearing more or in scheduling an appointment, contact our office at
and we’ll take care of you. We offer free consultation appointments as well if you’d like to simply go over any problem areas and discuss treatment options for varicose/spider veins with Dr. Brandish.