Minimally Invasive Spider Vein Treatment in Melbourne

Understanding the Causes

Unlike varicose veins, spider veins are not veins. Instead they are broken capillaries, venules and arterioles. These smaller blood vessels connect with larger blood vessels and veins around your circulatory system. Spider veins are quite common, affecting over 50% of women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). They are also more common when older, especially after the age of 60. Additional risk factors include:

• Genetics, namely a family history of spider veins and varicose veins
• Hormonal changes from menopause, pregnancy or birth control
• Occupations that involve standing for long periods
• Sedentary lifestyle, including long periods of sitting down at work
• Smoking, poor diet and excess alcohol consumption
• Excess weight, which adds pressure to the circulatory system
• Sun damage
• Injury or trauma
• Connective tissue issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, polymyositis and dermatomyositis

While small, these smaller blood vessels are located much closer to the surface of your skin compared to veins, so they are often highly visible.

Symptoms of Spider Veins

In most cases, spider veins are more of an aesthetic concern and are not associated with symptoms outside of their visible appearance. Some people with spider veins may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Cramping
• Itching
• Tired legs
• Burning
• Swelling
• Dull aching pain
• Changes in skin texture and colour

These are more common after standing or sitting for long periods, and may be indicative of other conditions, such as varicose veins.

Prevention Strategies

Whether you already have some spider veins or know you are at greater risk of developing them, there are some prevention strategies:

• Nutrition and Weight Management: Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy weight and ensure you’re getting essential nutrients associated with good vein health, like folic acid, vitamin C and flavonoids.
• Keep Active: Incorporate regular exercise into your lifestyle to promote circulatory health. This can be as simple as going on short daily walks or riding a bicycle.
• Wear Compression Stockings: If you already suffer from vein conditions or circulatory issues, specialised compression stockings can be an effective way of improving blood flow in your legs. This reduces the risk of developing spider veins and varicose veins by applying gradual pressure that is strongest at the ankles and reduces higher up towards the pelvis.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep your blood thin enough to circulate easily around your blood vessels. Aim to drink 3 to 4 litres of water every day.
• Alternating Your Working Position: Avoid sitting or standing in one position for too long to help prevent spider veins by improving body circulation. Some ways to do this include alternating between a sitting desk and a standing desk at work or simply flexing your ankles up and down and moving your feet while sitting. If you sit all day for work, try to get up every 30 minutes for a couple of minutes.
• Avoid Certain Clothing: High heels and clothing that is tight around your waist can interfere with blood circulation, increasing the risk of developing spider veins.
• Elevate Legs: While sitting or resting, your heart and blood vessels continue working hard to circulate blood around your body. Elevating your legs above your hips can take away some of the strain placed on your veins, making it easier for blood to flow.

Treating Spider Veins: What Are My Options?

Removal of spider veins is essentially painless with minimal side effects. Treatments can take as little as 30 minutes with the ability to return to your regular daily activities afterwards.

• Microsclerotherapy: This is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment option for spider veins that involves injecting a special solution into the affected blood vessel. It works the same as sclerotherapy, which is designed for varicose veins, with microsclerotherapy being ideal for targeting smaller blood vessels like capillaries.
• Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS): Using ultrasound guidance, UGS allows for increased accuracy when targeting smaller spider veins with sclerotherapy. This is ideal when there are numerous “branches” that need treatment and are difficult to distinguish by sight alone.
• Endovenous Laser Therapy: A form of non-invasive laser vein removal in legs and facial areas. Unlike sclerotherapy, there’s no injection of a chemical solution. Instead, we use a special laser to gently heat spider veins, shrinking and destroying them in the process. Smaller ones can disappear immediately while larger ones take up to 6 weeks to go away.

Consult our team to get a tailored treatment plan that suits your individual circumstances.

Sclerotherapy Procedure

Sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy are simple outpatient procedures that are highly effective at removing spider veins. The process is straightforward:

1. Affected blood vessels in the area are accurately mapped using an ultrasound or sonogram.
2. A special detergent solution is precisely injected into the spider veins using a micro-needle.
3. The blood vessel will collapse and seal.
4. Collapsed blood vessels are naturally absorbed by the body while blood flow is redirected to other nearby capillaries, venules and arterioles.

Depending on the number of veins being treated, treatment typically takes around 30 minutes, with results visible within three to six weeks. This treatment requires no anaesthetic, simplifying recovery.

Post-Sclerotherapy Care

Your vein doctor will provide you with post-procedure care tips. They’ll also schedule a follow up appointment to check results and go over any concerns or questions you may have. To achieve the best results, multiple treatments may be necessary. Most people return to their regular activities on the same day, but it’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for two days after the procedure.

You should also avoid excessive sun exposure, shaving or applying moisturiser and other lotions to the treatment area for a couple of days. Depending on the case, your clinician may also recommend wearing compression stockings for a week or two. These keep pressure on the treated blood vessel and improve your results.

Side Effects and Complications

While side effects are minimal, some patients experience mild tenderness and discolouration at the treatment site. These will quickly subside, lasting no longer than a few days. In some rare cases, brown lines or marks appear on the skin at the treatment site. This is because when blood breaks down, it can leave behind iron deposits. This is more common when treating darker blue spider veins and generally disappears after a few weeks.

While treated spider veins do not return, others can develop in the area after treatment. Matting describes a network of fine red veins that occur near the site of previous injections, most commonly with spider veins in legs. Matting is usually experienced by individuals who have extensive surface veins or a very fair skin complexion.

Safety Concerns and Preparation

The removal of spider veins is a safe, non-invasive treatment. Your vein doctor will undertake a thorough assessment to ensure an accurate diagnosis. The assessment includes a physical examination and imaging tests to determine the appropriate treatment plan. The specialist will look for and treat more serious issues, such as varicose veins and venous ulcers, before treating spider veins.

Our team will ensure you’re a good candidate for treatment. This will be based on your allergies, any medications you take and your medical history, including any history of vein problems or heart conditions.