Summer coming to an end means it’s the perfect time for treating visible leg veins. With today’s cosmetic advances, more women are treating these pesky, unsightly veins. Symptoms of visible leg veins can be cosmetically inconvenient or cause patients to experience real pain including restless leg syndrome.
There are various kinds of treatments available that can eliminate all types of visible leg veins regardless of the size or severity. Most treatments have little to no downtime, and there is a low risk of scarring or other side effects.
Radiance Medspa is here to help you find the correct treatment for your veins.
The Different Types of Leg Veins
Visible leg veins have a range of appearances, and some tend to be more unsightly than others. All visible leg veins can be broken down into three main categories:
Spider Veins. Considered the mildest form, these veins are fine, red, and resemble a small piece of thread. Mild veins are typically referred to as spider veins because of their striking resemblance to a spider’s web.
Varicose Veins. Varicose veins are more significant, bluish-green veins that you can easily feel when you run your hand over them. Veins that seem to be bulging out of the skin are considered varicose veins.
Reticular Veins. In the middle of spider veins and varicose veins, you will find what are referred to as reticular veins. Larger than spider veins, yet smaller than varicose veins, these in-between veins are visible to the eye. A vein can transition from a reticular vein into a varicose vein with time.
What Causes Spider and Varicose Veins?
A number of factors predispose a person to spider and varicose veins including:
- Genetics – If your parents have visible leg veins, you are twice as likely to have them because of your genetic make-up.
- Lifestyle – Having a job that requires you to sit or stand for extended periods of time increases your risk
- Hormonal Influences – Increased levels of hormones from pregnancy, puberty and menopause all increase your hormone balance. Increases in the blood flow to your body and carrying extra body weight also increases your risk. Birth control pills can also create visible veins due to hormone levels
- Obesity – Being overweight and forcing your body to carry extra weight
- Medical History – A history of blood clots and other conditions that cause increased pressure in the abdomen, such as tumors and constipation
How Laser Vein Therapy Works
The Excel V laser vein therapy system is incredibly versatile and can be used across the entire body. The Excel V laser works by selectively treating hemoglobin in the veins without causing damage to the surrounding tissue. Powerful pulses of laser energy target hemoglobin only, allowing the treatment to be spot-specific with completely accurate results every time.
- The laser targets hemoglobin in the veins
- The hemoglobin absorbs laser light, resulting in photocoagulation
- Heat is transferred to the vessel wall, helping to destroy the vessel and prevent it from reforming
Preparing For Laser Vein Therapy
As the procedure is not typically very painful, an anesthetic is not necessary. If you are sensitive to pain, you may request a topical anesthetic before treatment. The length of treatment depends on the extent of your vein, although on average, a laser vein removal procedure lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Treatment Recovery
Most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort after treatment, meaning there is no downtime required.
For the best results we recommend patients:
- Avoid intense aerobic exercise and weight lifting for 5-7 days
- Avoid sun exposure and use sunscreen on the treated area while outdoors
- Do not smoke
- Use a cold compress post-treatment
- Avoid heat for at least 24 hours
When To Expect Results
After treatment has been performed, those treated veins will not reappear. Results typically show within two treatment sessions, after 2-4 weeks, and full results will appear within two months. We usually recommend patients wait six weeks between treatments, and sometimes longer for large blood vessels.
Versatility For All Types of Veins and More
Even hard-to-reach areas on the body are no match for the Excel V laser. In addition to reticular veins, spider veins, and varicose veins, laser therapy can also treat:
- Facial veins
- Brown spots
- Wrinkles
- Rosacea
- Angiomas
- Port wine stains
- Poikiloderma
- Venous Lakes
- Warts
Are you a candidate for laser vein therapy? Schedule a consultation appointment with Radiance Skincare & Laser Medspa today to significantly reduce the appearance of your visible veins and achieve the smooth skin you desire.