Spider Veins
Are you looking for spider vein treatment in east Tennessee? With locations in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Knoxville our vein doctors have treated hundreds of patients with spider veins and other venous conditions. Our staff has years of experience, and we would love to help you achieve the results you desire.
Spider veins on the legs
Example of spider veins — thin red and blue web-like
vessels just below the skin.
Contains clinical photography | click to expand | © The Vein Company
Symptoms of Spider Veins
Do you have one or more of the following?
- Swelling
- Constant soreness
- Changes in skin color
- Clotting
- Ulcers
Spider veins typically carry fewer health risks than varicose veins and are usually only a cosmetic problem. In some cases, however, they can lead to more serious issues. Less often, spider veins can be a sign of blood backing up in deeper parts of the body.
Causes of Spider Veins
- Aging
- Heredity
- Hormonal changes
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Obesity
- Prolonged standing or sitting
- Sun exposure
When Should You See A Doctor?
If symptoms persist despite efforts to treat them yourself, you may want to consider seeing a doctor. There are a number of spider vein treatment options available that have proven successful in getting rid of spider veins.
Spider Veins Treatments
Spider veins are a mild form of varicose veins that appear as thin red and blue lines or as web-like networks of blood vessels on the surface of the skin. These abnormally enlarged veins appear when valves inside the veins no longer work properly.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a proven medical procedure used in the treatment of spider veins and occasionally varicose veins. It has been used since the 1930s and is performed in the office by a physician or specialized registered nurse.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution through a very fine needle directly into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to shrink and the blood to clot.
The procedure itself takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes. The number of veins injected in one session depends on the size and location of the veins.
Modern techniques such as ultrasonographic guidance and foam sclerotherapy are the latest developments. Sclerotherapy is the "gold standard" and is preferred over laser for eliminating large spider veins and smaller varicose leg veins.
Potential Risks of Treatment
The treatment for spider veins is minimally invasive and catheter-based. As such, it may involve the following risks. Your doctor can help you understand these risks.
Why it matters
Spider veins can be an early sign of deeper vein problems. An ultrasound evaluation can determine whether they are cosmetic or connected to underlying venous insufficiency that requires treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Spider Veins treatment near you
We treat spider veins at all of our locations across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.