About 5 weeks ago I had laser therapy done on my spider veins, still no results, but they seem more prominent. Is that possible?

Question

The tech I went to at the laser center said that my veins "responded very well." There was no scabbing or hyper-pigmentation after. 5 weeks later, no results at all, except I feel like they're more noticeable. Should I have this procedure done again by a real Dr.? What kind of Dr.? I don't believe my general doc would do this, or even has the equipment...What's my next step in getting rid of these pesky things? Am I just being impatient and 5 weeks is not enough time to see results?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you arianah for your question. I am sorry for your present results.
It is difficult to say exactly what procedure was performed. In addition, it is
difficult to say which procedure you need.

I would suggest the following: Have a venous duplex scan performed.
Depending on the results of this scan, it will determine which procedure needs
to be done. You may need revision of the surgery you had done, or a partial
revision surgery. This may include endovenous laser ablation of the entire
superficial vein or partial endovenous laser ablation of the vein. In addition
you may require partial removal of the vein or phlebectomy. Often, these
procedures are covered by insurance.

If you have any questions feel free to
contact my office. Good luck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, M.D.

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Leg veins can take 4-6 tretaments to achieve results, and absorption can take up to 6 months before the discoloration is resolved. I hope this helps!

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

I have a large practice and take care of  lot of patients with spider veins, varicose veins and venous insufficiency. I have many different laser devices for telangiectasisas (spider veins) but I find better outcomes with sclerotherapy in most (>95%) of my patients. I recommend that you get evaluated and treated for venous insufficiency before you undergo additional treatments. Vein specialists and dermatologists are best suited for the treatment of spider veins and reticular veins. Find someone who has expertise and who has additional qualifications from the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.

Ariel Ostad, MD · Answer

Hi Arianah,

If laser therapy was ineffective, I would recommend exploring foam sclerotherapy by a qualified physician.

The foam is made with carbon dioxide (room air) and
concentrated solution right before each patient’s individual procedure. Because
the foam is thicker than traditional liquid solutions, it penetrates into the
vein walls and stays there long enough for the walls to collapse upon themselves.
The solution destroys the inner lining of the vein wall. The body’s circulatory
system will remove the solution in the subsequent weeks and months following
the procedure. The foam solution will affect the varicose veins and spider
veins within minutes.

The unsightly appearance of the veins will subside
as the foam destroys the inner lining of the vein walls.Most patients see
immediate improvement in the appearance of their varicose and spider veins.
Results are both instant and gradual. Immediately after your procedure, you may
experience some bruising, cramping or pigmentation. This is normal and will
subside shortly. During the weeks and months after your procedure, you will
continue to notice improvement and the subsequent disappearance of the varicose
veins and spider veins.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Dr. Ariel Ostad

John Landi, MD · Answer

The gold standard treatment for spider veins is sclerotherapy. Laser is an alternative to sclerotherapy but certainly not as effective.  Most spider vein treatments require several cycles of treatments to achieve a result.  If you have a lot of veins then you should also consider a full venous evaluation with a venous reflux ultrasound before further treatments.

James W. Schlotter, MD · Answer

If you had no results from the laser spider vein treatments then you probably have a reticular vein (green vein) that is larger underneath the spider veins.  You have to treat the larger source of blood flow (pressure) before treating the small veins.  It's like trying to close a creek when the Mississippi river is still flowing in.  I recommend that you are evaluated and treated by a vein specialist that can treat the veins using sclerotherapy.

About 5 weeks ago I had laser therapy done on my spider veins, still no results, but they seem more prominent. Is that possible?

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