What is Spider Vein Treatment?
There are effective, safe and relatively painless methods available for reducing spider veins. The most common spider vein treatment involves the injection of a solution into each affected vein, causing the vein to collapse and fade. Laser treatments are also available for the reduction or Treatment of spider veins.
What are spider veins?
In some women, spider veins—those small clusters of red, blue or purple veins that appear on the thighs, calves and ankles—become noticeable at a young age. For others, the veins may not become obvious until much later.
Causes of spider veins
A number of factors may contribute to the development of spider veins in the legs, including:
- Heredity
- Hormonal shifts
- Occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing
- Pregnancy
- Weight fluctuation
Spider Vein Treatment cost
Spider vein treatment costs can vary widely, depending on the number of treatments required and the method of treatment chosen. The average cost of spider vein treatment is AU$400.
Spider vein treatment costs may include:
- Post-treatment garments
- Surgeon's fee
Most health insurance plans will not cover spider vein treatment, related complications or another procedure to revise the appearance of your legs. You must carefully review your health insurance policy.
Spider Vein Treatment Candidates
Spider vein treatment is a good option if you:
- Are bothered by spider veins anywhere on your body
- Are committed to following your plastic surgeon's prescribed course of treatment
- Have a positive outlook and realistic goals for your spider vein treatment
Spider Vein Treatment Recovery
During your recovery from spider vein treatment, you may be instructed to wear support hose to help your legs heal.
The treated sites will appear bruised and you may feel some cramping in your legs for the first day or two after treatment. This discomfort is temporary and usually doesn't require prescription medication.
Although every patient heals at a different rate, most are back to normal activities quickly.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your legs following treatment, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.
You can expect that your spider vein treatment recovery will follow this general time line:
Within one week
- You may be instructed to wear support stockings for three to six weeks
- You should avoid squatting, heavy lifting and running
- The tape, cotton balls or any other dressings (if used) will be removed from the treated areas when recommended by the plastic surgeon
- The treated sites will appear bruised
- You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two
- You will be encouraged to walk
Within one month
- The bruises at the treated sites will diminish
- You will begin to feel more comfortable wearing leg-baring fashions
- You can resume most exercise
- One month after the first treatment, spider veins are distinctly lighter, yet still somewhat visible
- You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two
After two months, your veins treatment should have completed its healing. At this point, you and your plastic surgeon will decide if any additional treatment is necessary.
Spider Vein Treatment Result
After each spider vein treatment, you will notice improvement of your skin's appearance. However, it is important to realize that new spider veins may surface in the future.
As time passes, you may want to consider further treatment to take care of any new veins that may emerge.
The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. Be sure to discuss with your surgeon the results expected in your case, as well as the cost involved.
