Spider
Veins

Lake Mary Spider Veins (Sclerotherapy)

Lake Mary Plastic Surgery

 If you sometimes avoid showing your legs because you have spider veins — those small groupings of red, blue or purple veins that appear on the thighs, calves and ankles — you are not alone. It’s estimated that at least half of all women are bothered by this common cosmetic problem.

 If you would like to eliminate your spider veins and improve your appearance, Dr. Shoukas can help. Today there are very effective, safe and relatively painless methods available for eradicating spider veins. This procedure can be done in our Lake Marry office.

 In some women, spider veins become noticeable in their early 20s. For others, the veins may not become obvious until they reach their 40s. Men get spider veins, too. However, usually they are concealed by hair growth on the leg.

 A number of factors may contribute to the development of spider veins in the legs, including: heredity, pregnancy, hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing.

 Spider vein treatment is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. Spider vein treatment can be performed on people of any age and is a good option for you if:

1        You are bothered by spider veins anywhere on your body

2        You have a positive outlook and realistic goals for your spider vein treatment

3        You are committed to following the prescribed course of treatment

 If leg veins are the problem, Dr. Shoukas may examine you for signs of more serious “deep vein” problems, as well as for larger, varicose veins. These conditions are often identified by swelling, sores, or skin changes at the ankle.  If problems are identified, Dr. Shoukas may refer you to a different specialist for further evaluation and possible treatment.

Spider Vein Treatment by Dr Shoukas:

The Treatment

Sclerotherapy requires no anesthesia and is usually performed in our Lake Mary office. Three or more sessions, each lasting less than an hour, are usually required to obtain optimal results.

A common method of treating spider veins in the legs and ankles is with sclerotherapy. In this treatment, sclerosing solution is injected into each affected vein, causing the vein to collapse and fade from view.

Although everyone is different, you can generally expect to receive one injection for every inch of spider vein that is treated. Bright light and magnification may be used to ensure maximum precision while the skin is held taut to inject sclerosing solution.

A cotton ball and compression tape is often applied to each injection site as it is finished.

 Every patient heals at a different rate. However, you can expect that your recovery will follow this general time line:

Within One Week

1        You will be encouraged to walk

2        The tape, cotton balls or any other dressings (if used) will be removed from the treated areas when recommended by Dr. Shoukas

3        The treated sites will appear bruised

4        You will be instructed to wear support stockings for three to six weeks

5        You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two

6        You should avoid squatting, heavy lifting and running

 Within One Month

1        The bruises at the treated sites will diminish

2        You will begin to feel more comfortable wearing leg-baring fashions

3        You can resume most exercise; however, your doctor should be consulted if you plan to do any weight lifting or jogging

4        One month after the first treatment, spider veins are distinctly lighter, yet still somewhat visible

5        You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two

6        After two or more treatments, the leg appears noticeably clearer and more attractive

After about a month of healing, you may be ready for a second vein treatment. With each treatment, you will notice further improvement of your skin’s appearance.

It’s important to know treatment may not prevent new spider veins from surfacing in the future. As time passes, you may find that you need further treatments to take care of any new veins that may emerge.

Schedule your consultation with our office. Or call our Lake Mary Plastic Surgery team today 407-333-2518.