Vein Removal

Dilated blood vessels on the face and body can have multiple sources, from disfunctional venous drainage to just superficial disfuncton that leads to cosmetic unsighly appearance. While addressing facial veins is relatively simple, removing varicose, reticular and spider veins on the legs can be challenging and addressing the underlying issue is always the right thing to do. Appropriate evaluation by a dermatologist or vascular surgeon in the case of leg veins is appropriate given that inadequate early assessment can lead to the following:

• Skin problems (hyperpigmentation and blisters)
• Swelling
• Severe pain
• Blood clots

Once an appropriate evaluation has been done, the first option might be to just try compression stockings; however, if your case is complex or the socks didn’t work well for you, then you might need to have an evaluation of your deep venous system with a Dupplex ultrasound. Deep venous insufficiency can only be corrected by a vascular surgeon who performs laser endovascular ablation or vein stripping procedures.

What are varicose, reticular and spider veins?

Abnormal and dilated blood vessels are classified based on their caliber as spider and varicose veins. While spider and varicose have some similarities, there are also some notable differences between them.

Spider Veins

 These are sometimes referred to as thread veins, because of their appearance. They typically measure less than 1 mm, are red in color, and resemble spider webs or tree branches. Even though you can see them, they typically can’t be felt through touch. Most of the time you will find spider veins on the face or legs. Reticular veins – These veins are 1 mm- 3 mm in diameter and could be red to purple. They have more substance than a spider vein but much less than a varicose vein. They typically don’t give any symptoms.

Varicose Veins

 These are veins that have become twisted, tortous, measure more than 3 mm and can have a variety of different colors. Also, they might have a rope-like texture and bulge out causing the skin to elevate. They are found mostly on the calves, thighs, or ankles and feet. However, varicose veins can also make an appearance on the buttocks and lower pelvic area during pregnancy. They are often times painful.

What Causes dilated blood vessels?

There are a few underlying or direct causes as to why a person might be predisposed to spider and varicose veins. Some of the most common reasons include the following:

• Aging
• Obesity
• Sun exposure
• Systemic disease such as liver disease
• Sedentarity lifestyle
• Hereditary
• Hormonal changes and treatments
• Trauma to the skin
• Topical steroid use/abuse

These are just a few reasons why someone might be more likely to dilated blood vessels. While they can occur in both women and men, more women are reported to have them than men
probably due to hormonal issues.

What are treatments for dilated blood vessels?

For telangiectasias, spider veins and reticular veins laser treatments are an option used to close off troubled veins by using bursts of high-intensity light to zap the vein. It’s relatively non-invasive, because it’s not necessary to insert needles or make incisions. It’s a great option for cases that are not severe, because there isn’t any recovery or down time after the treatments. The only side effect you might experience is a little pinkness for a couple days or some bruising on the legs that can take a few weeks to resolve. For facial veins , one type of laser treatment is the 577 nanometer version, or yellow laser, which targets oxyhemoglobin. As a result, this has a strong affinity to focus on the intended target and minimize the possibility for damage to the surrounding area. For deeper veins, a long-pulsed ND-YAG laser (1064 nm) can be a good option. This laser is the treatment of choice for veins on the legs.

On average, each vascular laser treatment takes about half hour, and full resolution of the veins might require 1-3 treatments. Recurrence is common and maintenance treatments are typically
necessary once to twice a year. Another option for pinkness or dilated blood vessels on the face is the IPL (intense pulsed light) procedure. The side effects and duration of time needed for treatments is the same as the yellow laser. However, the IPL emits a broad-spectrum of light to treat the area. The light is transmitted in the millisecond range and can also address hyperpigmentation at the same time.

For reticular veins and small varicose veins, injecting an sclerosing solution such as hypertonic saline, polydocanol (Asclera ™) or sodium duodecyl sulfate (SDS) inside of the vein is another option that we offer in our office. Both options are safe and require few treatment sessions in order to get excellent results. If you have any questions, make an appointment for a consultation.