If you’re frustrated by spider veins and ready to say goodbye to the unsightly red, blue, and purple lines on your legs, the team at New Canaan Podiatry in New Canaan, Connecticut, can help.
Many therapies for spider veins involve harsh chemical injections. Not at New Canaan Podiatry. Our board-certified podiatrist, Jennifer Tauber, DPM, uses noninvasive laser ablation to clear away spider veins and improve the appearance of your skin. Keep reading to learn about how laser ablation can erase your spider veins and why you have them in the first place.
Before beginning treatment, Dr. Tauber evaluates your symptoms and examines your spider veins. If your spider veins are very mild and not bothersome, she may recommend trying compression stockings before trying laser ablation.
If your spider veins are moderate to severe, Dr. Tauber can treat them using the Fontana endovenous laser system, a non-invasive therapy that harnesses the power of heat to clear away spider veins.
The Fontana’s long-pulse Nd: YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser energy heats the vein. Over time, the walls of the vein collapse and the seal shut, and the treated veins are reabsorbed by your body. The dead cells are then removed using your body’s natural waste removal processes.
It takes several weeks for the veins to disappear as your body naturally removes the dead tissues, which makes fall or winter the perfect time to get your legs ready for spring. Note that depending on how many veins you have and their severity, you may need more than one session to achieve your desired results.
About 60% of people develop spider veins when the one-way valve in their capillaries (the small veins that create spider veins) stops working correctly. With a faulty valve, your blood, which is supposed to flow in one direction, can flow backward and pool in the vein.
Since these veins are close to the surface of your skin, the pooled blood shows through as unsightly spider veins. Researchers still aren’t sure why some people are more prone to spider veins, but they do know certain risk factors increase your chances, including:
You can minimize your risk of getting spider veins by wearing sunscreen, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, not sitting or standing without breaks, and elevating your legs regularly.
Even with these precautions, some people still develop spider veins regardless of what steps they take. If you’re among the majority of people with spider veins, clear them away by contacting New Canaan Podiatry at 203-263-9052 or book an appointment online.
