Despite millions of Americans suffering from vein disease every day, many affected individuals are hesitant to reach out and find proper treatment for their spider veins. Many individuals assume that the procedures will be painful, expensive, or time-consuming. At Alate Vein Center, we are here to address all of your concerns surrounding spider vein treatment in Houston and the minimally invasive options you have when you choose us.
WHAT ARE SPIDER VEINS?
Both spider and varicose veins are emblematic of a disease known as venous insufficiency, in which one-way valves in the veins cause blood to back up and pool within the legs. This process causes the weakening of blood vessels and breakage of capillaries. The end result is the bulging look and discomfort that is associated with spider and varicose veins. While these two conditions are very similar, varicose veins are often larger and embedded away from the skin’s surface. Due to these differences, they are diagnosed and treated differently.
Spider veins are enlarged, diseased veins that appear dark blue or red on the surface of the skin. They have been likened to tree branches or spider webs — hence the reason for their name. Depending on the patient and the extent to the vein disease, they may cover a large portion of skin or just a small area. While not everything about their causes is known, the combined pressures of gravity, body weight, and having to push blood down the length of the body and back up appear to be the root cause of their development. Both spider veins and varicose veins can impede the lives of patients both cosmetically and through physical discomfort.
HOW ARE SPIDER VEINS DIAGNOSED?
When you step into Alate Vein Center, our board-certified radiologists will sit down for an individual consultation to assess any questions or concerns you may have regarding your legs and veins. The radiologist will begin by examining the problem area. Do they have the dark, webby look that is typical of spider veins? If they believe the cause to be spider veins upon a first glance, our vein specialists will then use advanced vascular technology in order to make a diagnosis and figure out what further action must be taken with blocked or irregular blood flow.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF I DON’T TREAT MY SPIDER VEINS?
If spider veins go untreated, the discoloration of the veins will continue to get darker and the veins may start bulging even more prominently away from the skin. Any uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with the veins may steadily begin to worsen as well. While spider veins are not usually as physically serious as varicose veins, the quality of your life can be greatly improved through spider vein treatments.
There are a multitude of different symptoms associated with spider veins.
While the severity of the condition will determine whether or not you are suffering from varicose veins, spider veins, or a combination of both, some of the most common symptoms are listed below:
- Dark blue or red veins that resemble the look of a spider web
- Leg swelling
- Heaviness in legs
- Feeling of tiredness in legs
There are several different factors that may impact your chances of contracting spider veins:
- Men and women do not suffer equally – women are four times more likely to contract spider veins
- Working a job that requires long periods of standing
- Family with a history of venous insufficiency
- Individuals over the age of 30
- Regular heavy lifting
- History of blood clots
- Hormonal changes
- Obesity
If you suffer from spider veins in Houston, TX, our specialists would love to take the time to walk you through our various treatment options to find a solution that best suits your needs. The treatments we offer usually involve minimal discomfort in an outpatient facility that allows you to regain normal activities the next day.
Our vein treatments include sclerotherapy, vein ablations (otherwise known as laser treatments), phlebectomy (otherwise known as vein removal), and VenaSeal. Each one of these minimally invasive procedures is performed in an outpatient facility where you will usually be able to leave the same day. To discover more about our treatments, please visit our Vein Center treatment page.
