What Treatments are Available for Spider Veins?
Dr. Cutchen treats most spider veins with the “gold standard” in spider vein treatment – sclerotherapy. This technique uses an FDA-approved injectable treatment that damages the walls of the vein. The vein will collapse, stopping blood flow. The body clears away the remnants of this vein over time.
The VeinWave™ targets tiny veins (usually less than .3 mm) on the face and nose that are too small for sclerotherapy. Dr. Cutchen inserts a hair-thin fiber next to the target vein under the skin. The fiber emits a pulse of radiofrequency energy that damages the vein. The body naturally eliminates the treated veins, leaving your skin with a clearer and smoother appearance.
What is the Difference Between Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?
Spider veins and varicose veins both occur when the walls of a vein become stretched and discolored. Spider veins usually measure 1 mm or less in diameter and look like threads, while varicose veins are generally 3 mm or more and may look raised and rope-like. Varicose veins often indicate a problem with blood flow in the deeper veins of the legs, causing blood to back up into the “feeder” veins that lead to them. Dr. Cutchen has tools to treat these affected veins to redirect blood to flow through healthy ones.