How Spider Vein Removal Is Done

By Stella Gay


Blood vessels in the human body can suffer from several disorders, some of which result directly from lifestyles. Others on the other hand result from abnormalities within the body without human influence. One of the conditions that can be caused by lifestyle as well as natural factors is spider veins. These veins are characterized by several features that make them unique and easy to identify immediately they start to form.

Some of the characteristics of affected blood vessels include swollen appearance and enlargement. Their twisted and turned nature make them visible through the skin and in most cases they appear on faces and feet. Both natural and artificial reasons can be causes. Use of control pills, postmenopausal hormonal replacement, obesity, heredity, and blood clots history are key causes. Options for treatment are numerous, although spider vein removal happens to be among the dominant ones in Austin, TX.

This blood vessel disorder seems to be more prevalent in women than it is in men and the frequency always increases with age. In the US, at least 30% to 60% of adults are found to have varicose or spider veins. Symptoms for this condition are quite characteristic. The major ones include pain in legs in form of aching and cramping. Other signs include fatigue, restlessness, throbbing, heaviness, tingling, and burning feeling in legs.

Pain can be relieved through raising of legs or wearing support hoses. However, these are short-term solutions because pain returns when one puts their legs down or removes the hose. Pregnancy and menstrual cycles have been noticed to worsen pain in women. Ulcers, darkening of the skin color around the ankles, thrombophlebitis, as well as swelling of legs are other common symptoms that may occur but only on rare occasions.

Treatment options are many and they include changing lifestyle, sclerotherapy, endovenous laser treatment, radiofrequency occlusion, surgery, and laser and intense pulsed light. Changing lifestyle may be helpful during the early stages of the condition. Therefore, discovering the condition early enough would make it much easier to treat more effectively. However, relapsing to previous lifestyle may cause the condition to return.

Surgery is the treatment option considered in cases where the condition is much worse and the vessels have enlarged too much. Surgery may require ligation coupled with stripping. Ligation involves tying the veins off while stripping involves removal of a segment of affected vein, normally a long one. Ambulatory phlebectomy is another removal option that removes the blood vessels through small incisions without the necessity for stitches.

Surgery is considered as an option in serious conditions and could be done under varying anesthesia conditions. There is no need for admission because patients are normally allowed to return home afterwards. Most insurance companies decline to insure spider veins and one should be advised accordingly. Before seeking medication, it is best to consult with the insurer.

Cost for the treatment for the removal procedure is variable. Different states charge differently depending on different factors. Some of the factors may include level of severity and location of the vessels. The process can be performed in the office, on an outpatient basis.




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