When spider veins (also known as thread veins) appear, many people wonder what they can do to get rid of them. Some turn to massage for the answer.
Massage--does it work?
Spider veins are a milder version of varicose veins. These pink and purple veins appear for a number of reasons: fluctuations in hormone levels, obesity, and trauma. Each of these factors can put pressure on the smaller veins and break blood vessels, which makes them show up through the skin looking purple or pink.
Massage helps your body relax and can improve your circulation. Poor circulation weakens blood vessels, which causes them to break more easily. Regular, light massage can sometimes help with this. Some may seek a professional for this, while others massage their legs each day themselves, working over the entirety of each leg to help reduce swelling and ease throbbing pain in the affected areas.
But the truth is, spider veins on the legs tend to worsen over time in people who have them. They rarely, if ever, go away on their own, even with regular massage.
Can spider veins disappear completely?
Spider veins can go away completely. Dr. Wirth uses a procedure called sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive, effective treatment that directly targets the broken, weakened veins. First a consultation is done to discover the extent of the spider veins and your general health. This helps Dr. Wirth to determine your treatment plan. He will decide how many of the veins can be targeted for injection if it’s not possible to do all of them in one treatment.
This non-surgical procedure is short, with the average treatment time only 20 to 60 minutes. With a small needle, Dr. Wirth injects an FDA-approved solution directly into the affected veins. This solution helps the vein to seal itself up, stopping the flow of blood from the broken blood vessels. The blood flows instead through the healthier veins. This erases the appearance of the spider veins. Once treated, these spider veins will not return.
What recovery time should I expect from sclerotherapy?
Because this is a quick outpatient procedure, there is no recovery time. In fact, local or general anesthesia isn’t necessary for this treatment, as there is only minor discomfort, although some people may experience mild pain or cramping after the injection.
Once the treatment is complete, you can expect to return to your normal activities immediately. The aches and pains and unsightly veins can be put behind you as you get right back into the swing of your daily life.
Takeaway
While massage can sometimes help to reduce appearance and pain, the most effective spider vein treatment is sclerotherapy. The option gives you the chance to eliminate spider veins for good, erasing the throbbing pain, swelling and unsightly look of spider veins.
This simple, non-invasive, rapid procedure takes an hour or less with Dr. Wirth. Come in for this treatment and say goodbye to spider veins!