FYI Cosmetics

Treatment of varicose veins is undergone by individuals for many reasons. While these unsightly veins are ultimately removed due to medical reasons, many men and women suffer with the emotional stress that they can create—embarrassing, unwanted varicose veins can reduce confidence levels and inhibit individuals from living their daily lives to the fullest. Whether they are causing physical pain, mental anguish, or both, varicose veins are true problem for many individuals, which is why several treatment options have been developed to remove them.

Varicose veins not only cause problems for men and women on the inside of their body’s, they also can be visually unappealing. Bluish or purple colored enlarged, distended and twisted varicose veins that lie at the surface of the skin are both a medical and a cosmetic problem; and one that men and women suffering with varicose veins often go to great lengths to remove. Over the years, many vein removal treatments have been developed, two of the most popular being Ligation and Laser Surgery.

Varicose Vein Ligation Procedure

Varicose vein ligation, which is also commonly known as vein stripping, is a procedure that involves small incisions made by a doctor to remove the damaged parts of the varicose vein in order to reduce the twisted, bulging sections without diminishing normal blood flow. During this procedure, sections of the damaged vein are removed and the remaining vein is reconnected to the central venous system in order to help the blood flow normally. The procedure usually involves two incisions, one in the groin area and then another at either the knee or the ankle. Through these incisions the surgeon will tie off the vein and will then pass a wire through the severed vein and will pull or ‘strip’ the vein out through the lower incision. This procedure can successfully remove unsightly varicose veins while restoring normal blood flow to the lower extremities.

Laser Vein Removal

Laser vein removal involves removing unwanted varicose veins with laser technology. During the vein procedure, the technician will insert a tiny probe into the vein, that probe contains a small laser. The laser will deliver a brief pulse of light that will target the hemoglobin in the vein. The laser light will then be absorbed by the hemoglobin (the substance in the blood that gives it its reddish, purple color), and when absorbed will be converted into heat. The heat collapses the walls of the vein which halts the flow of blood. Once the blood flow stops, the vein will be slowly absorbed into the body, making it no longer visible.

Other vein removal procedures are very invasive; they require incisions and lengthy recovery time. Laser technology, on the other hand, allows the physician to collapse the unwanted veins with minimal incisions and minimal damage to outer layers of skin. The lasers technology allows the light to target and treat the unwanted veins without causing any damage to the surrounding skin and tissue.

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Both of these surgical varicose vein procedures can help men and women to remove unsightly varicose veins with lasting results. Before undergoing treatment, consult with your physician and find the varicose vein treatment that will get you the results you desire.

Red, purple and blue superficial veins that appear on the legs and face are for many not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Often known as spider and varicose veins that can appear after pregnancy, weight gain, trauma, prolonged standing or in some instances can be genetic. These colored lines appear as a result of damaged vessels. Women have a higher tendency toward these venous abnormalities than men, with an estimated 25% or more of females suffer with some type of spider or varicose vein problem. Fortunately several methods are available to lessen and eliminate this issue.

Before we can eliminate the symptoms, we must first ask why the veins will initially appear. When appearing on the legs these superficial veins appear as a result of body weight, pressure and gravity. This pressure caused the internal portion of the veins to become damaged. The result is an overflowing of blood into the damaged areas causing a swelling which in turn produces spider or even the larger varicose veins.

Determining the type of venous problem will assist in choosing the proper course to remove the veins. Spider veins, or telangiectasias as they are sometimes known, are small thin red or purplish veins, usually close to the surface that appear on the face and legs. Varicose veins are larger deeper superficial veins that tend to bulge from the surface of the skin. While spider veins may have some symptoms associated with their appearance, it is generally the varicose veins that cause issues for the person. Symptoms that can be associated with the larger veins include; achiness, burning, throbbing, cramping, heaviness, itching, and skin ulceration (usually from vascular disease)

Depending on the type of veins, several treatment types are available to assist in vein removal. Sclerotherapy is primarily used for spider veins however it can also be very effective on smaller varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is the process of injecting an irritating solution into the damaged vessel. The response of the vein to this solution causes swelling which pushes out the blood thereby causing the vein to close itself down. Once closed down the body naturally breaks down and absorbs the vein. Several sessions may be required to clear an area. Costs can average $200-$400 per treatment.

Laser surgery and intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) can treat both spider and varicose veins. These treatments can accurately remove veins by directing highly concentrated light energy at the veins to infiltrate and destroy them. Veins slowly fade over a 4-6 week period of time. Some varicose veins can be treated with laser therapy, but this is usually restricted to veins under 3 millimeters in diameter. Costs can range from $200-500 per session.

Surgical procedures for leg vein removal include stripping, ligation, ambulatory phlebectomy and EVLT (endovenous laser treatment). An ambulatory phlebectomy is the process of making small incisions over the line of the vein and pulling it out through those incisions under local anesthesia. A surgical ligation involves making an incision over the vein and tying off the vein to cut off the blood supply to the damaged vessel. The stripping of a vein combines ligation and removal to eliminate the vein by tying off the upper end of the vein and pulling out the remainder. Often these procedures are done under general anesthetic in an outpatient or hospital setting. EVLT is done under local anesthesia. Under Doppler imaging the laser is inserted into the vein then slowly with drawn, heating and sealing the vein closed. Complications can be severe and scarring is almost always a definite.

Common side effects often associated with vein removal procedures can include hyper-pigmentation, telangectatic matting (more tiny veins appear in an area), infection, bleeding, reoccurrence of veins, blood clots, skin ulcers, scarring, severe inflammation and allergic reaction.
Consult a qualified physician to determine which treatment is right for your own particular needs.