Cosmetic vein treatments involve the closure or even the complete surgical removal of bulging veins that usually appear on the most visible parts of the thighs, legs, or even face. Various vein abnormalities like varicose veins, spider veins, and other vascular diseases can affect your physical appearance. For that reason, people tend to seek cosmetic vein treatments.
Many people don’t like the appearance and the unnatural look of purple (or other colored) and/or bulging veins. Besides, such vascular diseases and conditions can pose some health threats.
Therefore, we will take a look at the most common cosmetic vein treatments that will help you improve your appearance and potentially lower the health risks.
What Are Spider Veins and Varicose Veins?
Spider Veins
As the name suggests, these veins look like a spider web. However, these are smaller in comparison to varicose veins. You may find blue or red spider veins on the skin that appear like a spider web or sunburst.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are large and twisted veins that can appear anywhere on the body but generally occur near the visible and backside of the legs. They are not uncomfortable or a serious medical condition. However, people may face occasional embarrassment due to the appearance of large varicose veins.
Endovenous Laser Ablation
Endovenous laser ablation is a laser surgery that involves the closure and reduction of the varicose veins in the body. It is a non-invasive surgical procedure that effectively treats bulging veins on thighs and/or calves. Your surgeon closes the varicose veins with the use of a laser device that emits thin radiation beams.
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The laser device radiates thin heat beams that help shrink the varicose veins. Eventually, scar tissue forms that help in sealing the bulging vein.
Procedure
The procedure does not require an operation theater and may even take place in your primary healthcare provider’s office. Moreover, it is neither lengthy nor does it require you to stay hospitalized post-procedure. In fact, you can go home the same day of treatment and carry out routine tasks while following your surgeon’s precise instructions.
Apart from that, vascular surgeons suggest that the patient wear loose clothes post-procedure. The procedure usually takes an hour or a time duration close to an hour.
Here is the process of the endovenous laser varicose surgery:
- You change into hospital clothes and wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser light.
- The vascular surgeon will provide a numbing agent to the location of the varicose veins under treatment. Consequently, the vascular surgeon will produce an ultrasound image using a Doppler Ultrasound device.
- Next, the vascular surgeon will make a precise incision suitable enough to insert the catheter. Further, they will provide a numbing agent to the length of the varicose vein. The catheter will contain a laser fiber that will heat up the vein. Subsequently, the vein will heat up and start to shrink, which will lead to its closure.
- Finally, without the need for stitches, your vascular surgeon will ensure the placement of a bandage near the incision site.
Outlook (Post-Procedure)
After the procedure, you will have to follow bathing instructions and certain activities you should avoid. Moreover, you will have to wear stockings for at least two weeks. Normally, you may be able to carry on with your normal tasks and routines.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat spider and varicose veins. In sclerotherapy, your vascular surgeon will inject chemicals (sclerosing agents) into your damaged veins.
While spider veins are small and discomforting, varicose veins cause pain, cramps, and itching. In 2017, around 300,000 sclerotherapy surgical procedures took place in the United States. Moreover, research shows that nearly 20 percent of adults might experience varicose veins in their life at some point.
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Procedure
The procedure will take somewhere between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the severity. You might have to elevate your legs and lay face forward.
The procedure begins when your vascular surgeon cleans the skin area where the damaged veins are. Using a sharp needle, they will insert a sclerosing agent into the vein that will cause foam or liquid solution to seal it. Consequently, the blood flow redirects towards healthy veins, and the body absorbs the damaged vein over time.
Outlook
Smaller veins might be easy to treat, while larger and bulging veins may require multiple treatments. The results might be visible within a few weeks. However, with larger varicose veins, the results might appear after several months.
Despite the results’ visibility, over 80 percent of sclerotherapy patients in a study reported lower pain and discomfort.
Cosmetic Vein Treatments: Conclusion
If you are looking to get rid of the uncomfortable and bulging veins on your legs, thighs, face, or anywhere in the body, we’re here to help. At the Vascular Surgery & Vein Center, Dr. Norman Chideckel serves as a highly experienced and expert vascular surgeon and doctor.
Give us a call at 212-993-6133 to set a consultation meeting today. Visit our official website to gather more info.
References & Related Links:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/endovenous-laser-varicose-vein-surgery
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/varicose-veins
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/laser-ablation
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/surgery-for-varicose-veins
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tn10097
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures-sclerotherapy
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320282#risks-of-sclerotherapy
https://www.healthline.com/health/venous-insufficiency#prevention
https://www.healthline.com/health/varicose-veins