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SPIDER VEINS
OF FACE OR LEGS

Spider veins are small, damaged veins that can appear on the surface of the legs or face. They are usually not painful or harmful, but some people may wish to treat them for cosmetic reasons.

What causes Spider Veins?

In the legs, spider veins can occur when the valves inside the veins stop working properly. Veins carry blood back to the heart. To prevent blood from flowing backward, they contain a one-way valve that closes once the blood passes through it.

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If this valve weakens or becomes damaged, the blood may struggle to flow in the correct direction, and it can begin to pool inside the vein. Over time, this can cause a bulge in the vein that branches out, resulting in spider veins.

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Spider veins on the face are often the result of tiny blood vessels bursting. Increased pressure or sun damage can cause this to occur. Spider veins can be blue, purple, or red and may appear in the form of thin lines, webs, or branches. People sometimes also refer to them as thread veins.

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Factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing spider veins include:

  • Genetics

  • Pregnancy

  • Being female

  • Being older

  • Being overweight

  • Hormones

  • Sitting or standing for extended periods

  • A previous blood clot or vein damage

  • Excess pressure in the face

  • Sun damage

Treatment

Although generally harmless, spider veins can cause discomfort, and some people may wish to treat or remove them for cosmetic reasons.

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Sclerotherapy involves injecting an irritant directly into the affected vein. When the walls of the vein become irritated, they stick together and keep blood from flowing into the area. This procedure reduces swelling and cause the vein to shrink. Over time, the spider vein fades or vanishes. Several treatments may be necessary to obtain the desired results.

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After undergoing sclerotherapy, the person usually wears compression stockings for several days or weeks. Spider veins will gradually start to disappear after this procedures, but the process may take up to 6 weeks.

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What are the common side effects of the treatment?

Some side effects that may occur at the site of the injection include:

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  • Bruising

  • Raised red areas

  • Small skin sores

  • Darkened skin in the form of lines or spots

  • Multiple tiny red blood vessels

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These side effects usually go away within a few days to several weeks. 

Real patient before and after's

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is the process in which broken spider veins (capillaries) on the face or legs are injected, using an ultra-fine needle, with a sclerosing solution that starts breaking down, shrinking and then, eventually, closing these unsightly, non-functioning, fine-vessels. They are often located around the nasal base, across the cheeks, in front of the ears or anywhere on the legs.

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The sclerosing fluid we use is NOT SALINE, but a more user-friendly solution:

  • Does not sting like saline.

  • Causes fewer traumas to the surrounding tissues than saline.

  • It is more efficient than saline-requiring fewer treatments than saline.

How is it performed?

  • A very fine needle is inserted by barely tapping the skin, flushing a sclerosing solution through the dilated vessel.

  • The process may take 30-60 min, to complete both front and back legs in 1 session.

  • Most patients require 2-3 treatments, scheduled at least 1 month apart.

  • Pressure stockings are not required for spider vein treatments to the legs.

  • If the smallest needle is still too big to place into a vessel, then an IPL or BBL, or other laser treatment would be the better option.

  • For those larger, blue veins or varicose veins of the legs, you will be referred to an appropriate doctor who specialises specifically in larger vein treatment. Usually, sclerotherapy is advised, but other treatments may assist stubborn vessels: Laser Nd Yag, IPL/BBL, or Laser Genesis.

What to expect after?

  • Your injected areas will appear “worse, before they appear better”.

  • Red and raised welts, but painless, will subside overnight.

  • At the 4th week, the inner linings of the vessels are breaking down and the process is repeated, until the vessels are gone (usually 2-3 treatments, 1 month apart).

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