Large blue veins all over hips and legs at 21? (Photo)

It’s important to distinguish between varicose veins and spider veins when choosing between laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and vein surgery. With two board certified vein specialists, our center uses a combination of visual examination, functional flow measurements, ultrasound, transillumination, and infrared light to map out vein networks prior to therapy. Lasers can be used to treat deep varicose vein insufficiency, vein perforators, and varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is ideal for spider veins and reticular veins. Whereas surgery is reserved for severely incompetent varicose vein segments.


Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

What you have are called Reticular veins.  Some people have more than others.  Sometimes underlying venous reflux will cause you to develop a lot more of them.  Was your ultrasound done in the lying position or standing up? A proper venous ultrasound should be done while upright, otherwise reflux may be misssed.  If you in fact have no reflux, you can treat these veins with sclerotherapy alone and they usually respond very well.  If you have reflux, then the underlying reflux should be treated first. Overtime, you may develop more and maintenance sclerotherapy may be needed but the frequency of this varies from patient to patient.

Great question and the best way to evaluate is by consultation and examination. they are not reticular veins looking at the pics but only way to tell is examining them. I do recommend ultrasound for evaluation and if no reflux they are usually considered as cosmetic by the insurance companies. Having said that if they bother you they can be easily fixed with no down time.