reticular veins
Spider Vein Treatment Options
Spider veins
With their network of finely dilated red or blue blood vessels, spider veins can create unsightly blemishes. But with a range of non-invasive and minimally invasive treatment options available, today spider veins can be removed painlessly and efficiently. At the Vein Center facilities in Westfield, Clifton and Springfield New Jersey, we’ve successfully treated thousands of our neighbors from throughout the region for spider veins using techniques including foam sclerotherapy and laser ablation.
Sclerotherapy treatments involve injecting blood vessels with a sclerosing solution, a chemical that collapses the vessels, using a very fine needle, sometimes guided by ultrasound. In foam sclerotherapy, the sclerosing agent is mixed with air or carbon dioxide just before injection. In its foam state, the sclerosant can treat larger veins than is possible with liquid sclerotherapy, which affect larger areas of skin than does a spider vein, for example.
Laser ablation, another effective technique for getting rid of varicose veins, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to heat and destroy the spahneous vein which is the underlying cause of the varicose veins. For spider veins just under the surface of the skin, lasers that target the upper layers of the skin can eliminate the veins in one or a series of treatments. For deeper networks of spider veins, physicians can use endovenous laser treatment (EVLT). Guided by ultrasound, the laser fiber is passed through a catheter directly into the vein, permitting the precise delivery of the laser energy needed to rid the body of the saphenous vein.
Many medical facilities offer only one form of treatment for spider veins. We recommend selecting a vein center that offers several treatment options with an experienced staff that can explain and compare the benefits of various therapy options, and offer the best treatment choice for your individual case.
What are Varicose Veins?
Everybody’s heard of varicose veins, but how many people know what they actually are? Here at The Vein Center, with facilities in Westfield, Clifton and Springfield New Jersey, we’ve found most people aren’t aware of some of the fundamental facts about varicose veins, and that lack of understanding can have an impact on how they deal with the problem.
varicose veins
Varicose veins are prominent blue or purple superficial veins that have become enlarged because of problems in the circulatory system. Muscles in the legs contract to pump blood in the veins back up to the heart against the force of gravity, and valve leaflets in the veins close between the muscle contractions to prevent blood from flowing backwards. If the valves weaken or the vein becomes distended, the valves no longer close properly, allowing blood to flow backwards and pool, sometimes resulting in a varicose vein. They appear on the leg most often, but any vein can become varicose. Varicose veins are distinguished from reticular veins by their larger size, measuring more than 3mm, or about one-tenth of an inch across. Though many people think varicose veins affect only women or only older people, somewhere from about 25 to 40 percent of men develop varicose veins by the age of 60, and with its hereditary influence, some people may develop varicose veins while still in their 20s. There is also a strong link between pregnancy and the development of varicose veins.
Fortunately, varicose veins on the legs are simply a cosmetic problem in many cases. But the symptoms of varicose veins can include aches and discomfort in the surrounding area. What’s also important to know about varicose veins is that with today’s advanced treatments including laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy and other endovenous techniques, removing these problem veins is very simple and safe.
Reticular Veins: A Common Vein Condition You Can Do Something About
Reticular Veins
We’ve all heard of varicose veins. We’ve all heard of spider veins. But when we tell a patient here at The Vein Center that the unsightly blue line on their leg or thigh is a reticular vein, we get more than a few quizzical looks. Usually blue or purple in color, reticular veins, like better known varicose and spider veins, are a common problem. Smaller – usually about 2mm in diameter – than varicose veins, reticular veins do not protrude above the skin as varicose veins do. They may form areas on the inner part and back of the thighs, the legs and ankles, and occasionally on the face filled with unattractive vein clusters. Their appearance deters many affected women from wearing shorts, skirts, bathing suits or other clothing that reveals areas of the skin where reticular veins are visible.
