Dr. Bonnie Marting DNP ARNP

Have you ever noticed people wearing long pants even though it’s 100 degrees outside? It makes you wonder why they don’t just go throw on a pair of shorts. Well, maybe they’re trying to hide unsightly spider veins.

My friend would only wear Capri’s because her legs resembled the picture above. After treating those veins, I actually discovered she had knees! She began wearing shorter skirts and shorts; her whole demeanor and appearance has changed- just from removing those spider veins.

So why if it can make such a dramatic impact, don’t I see more people seeking treatment for them? I believe they just need more knowledge about the procedure and how it works.

The first question I’m usually asked is how to prevent them from cropping up. My answer is, “Sorry, you can’t prevent them. Unfortunately, spider veins are genetic and you inherit them. Unless you had an injury that resulted in a huge bruise that never went away, you’re prone to spider veins if your heredity dictates it.”

But there is positive news- we can easily treat them and diminish the appearance of those red, purple bluish veins dramatically. As long as the veins aren’t bulging and they’re truly spider veins, then an injected solution into them will cause the vessels to ultimately collapse. (Don’t worry, the veins weren’t functioning properly anyway, and so killing them now won’t matter.) Here’s how it works.
A very tiny injection needle filled with a sclerosant (fancy name for a chemical -in this case made up of a very concentrated salt solution) of saline is placed directly into the spider vein. This causes the inner walls of the vessel to dehydrate, forcing its collapse. It will require more than one treatment, and these are best done within a month.
That’s it. It’s easy, relatively painless, and the results can last for years! If the spider veins do come back (blame it on heredity), another procedure can be done.

So, don’t let a little discomfort (and the fact you have to wear hose for three days after the procedure) stop you from having the beautiful spider-free look you desire. And men, though I’ve been addressing the women here-you can get spider veins too! If they bother you, let’s remove them. Don’t worry, I won’t put you in pantyhose- we’ll change the name to compression socks for you manly men! Seriously, Spider Man may be sexy, but you don’t want to literally look like one. Take care of them- you’ll look younger and feel more virile if you do.

So what are you waiting for? You could be spider-vein-free in a few weeks. Follow it up with shopping. Go buy that new summer wardrobe of miniskirts and short shorts you were always too self-conscious to wear. Trust me- you’re going to look great!