Spider Veins

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 veins and varicose veins are typical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

CVI develops when the one-way valves in your veins don’t work as they should, so blood backs up and pools in your legs. That causes the blood vessels to weaken and capillaries to break, resulting in varicose veins and spider veins.

Gravity and body weight can also contribute to the formation of these problem veins, and if you’re a woman, you’re four times as likely to develop spider or varicose veins.

The two conditions differ in that varicose veins are large and often protrude from the skin, whereas spider veins are much smaller and flatter. They show as dark blue or red lines that look like spider webs or tree branches.

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.

Do spider veins cause any symptoms?

Spider veins often don’t cause symptoms, unlike varicose veins, which can be painful as well as unsightly. Varicose veins and extensive spider veins could cause leg swelling and feelings of heaviness and tiredness in your legs.

Dr. Doe at Alate Health have the experience to diagnose your spider veins from their appearance. Using advanced vascular diagnostic technology, they can find out why you might have spider veins and how they’re affecting blood flow.

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
  
  

How are spider veins treated?

There are several choices when it comes to treating spider veins. Dr. Doe at Alate Health’s vein center offer:

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure in which your vein doctor injects a liquid called a sclerosant into problem veins. The sclerosant collapses the veins and closes them off, and blood flows through healthier veins instead. Over time, your body absorbs the damaged veins, and they disappear.

Endovenous ablation

Endovenous ablation works along similar lines to sclerotherapy but uses heat to seal the spider veins. The heat source can be either laser or radiofrequency energy. Your vein doctor uses ultrasound imaging to insert a small, flexible tube called a catheter into the spider vein. Endovenous ablation takes 20 minutes, and your entire appointment lasts no more than an hour.

Endovenous ablation shouldn’t cause too much discomfort. However, Alate Health offers twilight sedation that makes you relaxed and sleepy to ensure your experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Recovery from sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation is swift, with most patients able to return to work and their regular activities the day after their spider vein removal treatment.

Both methods are effective for varicose veins as well. Other varicose vein treatments that Alate Health uses are phlebectomy, which is a type of minimally invasive vein removal, and VenaSeal™, which closes veins off by gluing them shut.

If you suffer from spider veins, let the vein specialists at Alate Health walk you through the available treatment options to find the one that’s best for you. Call Alate Health or schedule an in-person or virtual appointment online today.