Thread veins on the legs, commonly known as spider veins or, more correctly, telangiectasia are very common and can be very unsightly if rather prominent. They can occur at any site on the legs but are more common in ladies than men. Approximately 20% of 20 year old women have thread veins on the legs and 50% of 50 year olds. The veins vary in size, color and type ranging from fine red ones to larger purple or deeper blue veins. They can cause significant cosmetic embarrassment and often interfere with the ability to wear short skirts in the summer months.

The reason why people develop thread veins on the legs is not fully understood but the known and most important causes include heredity, pregnancy and hormones and minor injuries. They can also be associated with varicose veins and follow on from varicose vein surgery. 

What do I need to be aware of when choosing a treatment for my thread veins?

Thread veins are quite a complex problem in that there are different sizes of thread vein at different depths in the skin and different types of thread vein, which may or may not be associated with underlying varicose veins. In order to get the best results from treatment it is very important to have a proper assessment of the whole vein systems in the legs to determine whether or not there is any connection between the superficial thread veins and the deeper varicose veins. The importance of this is that if there is a connection which is not treated then there is a high pressure within the flow of blood in the thread veins and they are likely to recur following treatment. For this reason combination treatments for thread veins to include treatment of varicose veins and injection sclerotherapy of larger thread veins may be the best treatment option.

We specialize in the treatment of varicose veins and thread veins on the legs and have the facilities to carry out full Doppler assessment of the leg vein systems prior to recommending an individual treatment plan. 

How can the laser help with thread veins?

The laser energy is absorbed by the blood in the veins creating heat, which damages the lining of the blood vessel and causes the walls of the blood vessel to stick together and seal them off. The vein is then gradually absorbed by the body and disappears. Some types of thread veins respond better than others to treatment and more than one type of laser may be required to achieve the best results. Usually 2 or 3 treatments are adequate for any given area.

Are the results permanent?

Provided the recommendations above have been followed, in the majority of cases the same veins will not recur but new veins can with time appear at other sites and require treatment at a later date. There is no doubt that some people have a tendency to produce these unwanted veins and may continue to do so even following successful treatment. 

Does the treatment hurt?

Generally speaking laser thread vein treatment is well tolerated but the larger the vein the more discomfort will be felt and for this reason we often apply a topical local anesthetic cream prior to the procedure. 

What can I expect following treatment?

Immediately following the treatment, the treated veins will become red and swollen but not painful and occasionally small areas of blistering or crusting can occur. These reactions usually disappear within hours or a few days and the area needs to be kept well moisturized and away from sunlight. The treated veins take up to 8 weeks to absorb before the final result can be seen and further treatments carried out as necessary.

For more information on Laser Vein Removal, please contact the vein treatment experts at ASI - Boca Raton, Florida. Also providing laser vien removal for patients in Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale.