The purpose of this discussion is to review options for spider vein treatment and provide some guidance on how to find the right vein clinic.
The most important consideration is to evaluate and treat more than what you see on the surface of the skin. Spider vein are often a result of an underlying process known as venous insufficiency according to Dr Rios. This condition is associated with leg cramps, leg pain, swelling, skin discoloration, and leg ulcerations. Spider and varicose veins are a cosmetic representation of venous insufficiency.
For effective spider vein treatment, venous insufficiency should be excluded first by the vein clinic. If present, larger insufficient veins causing symptoms should be treated prior to cosmetic procedures for better long term results and symptom relief.
The options for spider vein treatment using medical treatment include:
Cosmetic sclerotherapy– this is generally the preferred treatment by vein doctors for most types of veins. The few exceptions are tiny, matted veins (very wispy, small veins in small tight gatherings), facial spider veins and those on the feet. Spider veins on the legs are preferably injected with medical agents such as polidocanol or STS with great effect. The procedure is office based and can take 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the severity. In the initial 2 weeks, the veins may appear reddened and inflamed, but will subsequently begin to fade over the next 4 weeks. Most patients require several treatment sessions over the course of a few months to achieve desired results.
Laser treatment– Performed by the vein doctor or one of the clinic’s assistants. It achieves spider vein removal by a focused beam of light on the target veins. This causes the spider veins to collapse and disappear similar to sclerotherapy. There are no needles involved, which may be favorable for some patients. It cannot penetrate much beyond the skin, so its mostly reserved for surface spider veins rather than varicose or reticular veins (blue, or green veins often seen next to spider veins and can be referred to as feeder veins). Laser is preferred for the face and feet where the skin texture is not ideal for sclerotherapy injections.
Where should I go for spider vein removal?
In either case, it’s probably best to visit with a dedicated vein clinic to determine the best vein treatment for you. A full service vein treatment center can order appropriate testing such as ultrasound for underlying venous insufficiency. The test can be performed directly in the office over 40 to 60 minutes and is covered by medical insurance.
Based on the information achieved from this scan, a vein doctor can develop the appropriate vein treatment plan for your condition.
Spider and varicose vein treatment cost can be quite variable between and this depends on the vein treatment near me, physician credentials, reputation and treatments performed. Laser treatments can be slightly cheaper, however it is not always the ideal treatment for spider veins. At the vein specialist centers around NJ and NY, the average cost of a 30 minute session for spider vein removal is $500-1000. Medical treatments including vein ablation, venaseal, and phlebectomy are vein treatments covered by medical insurance. Out of pocket costs are variable depending on individual plans for deductible and co-insurance.
