What is Better for Spider Veins: Laser or Sclerotherapy?
Laser Vein Therapy vs. Sclerotherapy
If you’re considering your spider vein treatment options, you may wonder, “what is better for spider veins: laser or sclerotherapy?” Sclerotherapy is widely considered the best spider vein treatment available because it’s painless, highly effective, safe, and reliable. Laser therapy is commonly offered in medical spas because it’s non-invasive and doesn’t have to be performed by certified vein doctors, but it’s not nearly as effective as sclerotherapy. This article describes the differences between sclerotherapy and laser therapy for spider veins.
California Vein Treatment is a group of state-of-the-art medical centers for vein treatment in California. We specialize in cutting-edge, minimally invasive spider vein treatments that guarantee safe, consistent, and long-lasting results. We generally avoid laser vein therapy because it provides temporary results and a high rate of spider vein recurrence. Our board-certified vein doctors focus on comprehensive spider vein treatments that address the root cause of your vein problems — not just the visible spider veins.
You can find our medical centers for vein treatment in San Jose and San Diego. Please schedule an appointment at your nearest center for spider vein treatment in California.
Laser Vein Therapy for Spider Veins
Laser vein therapy is a non-invasive procedure that involves using laser energy to treat spider veins. The vein doctor or medical provider uses a handheld device to channel highly-calibrated wavelengths of light energy into the spider veins. The light energy destroys the walls of the unhealthy spider veins, making them shrink and gradually fade away from the skin’s surface. However, laser vein therapy only works on the smallest and thinnest spider veins, and most patients need multiple sessions for optimal results.
Laser vein therapy is common in medical spas because it doesn’t have to be performed by certified phlebologists
Laser vein therapy is an extremely popular treatment in medical spas and the offices of dermatologists. Medical spas and dermatology offices favor laser vein therapy because it doesn’t have to be performed by certified phlebologists, i.e., vein doctors. Laser vein therapy can also be offered by laser technicians and cosmetic providers. Since laser vein therapy doesn’t have to be performed by vein doctors, you don’t receive the consultation necessary to determine if you may have underlying vein disease.
Laser vein therapy doesn’t address the root cause of spider veins
Laser vein therapy is a purely cosmetic treatment, and it’s offered for purely cosmetic reasons. The laser energy shrinks and removes the unhealthy spider veins from the skin’s surface, but it can’t treat underlying chronic venous insufficiency. Furthermore, medical spas and dermatology offices don’t usually have vein specialists who can diagnose vein disease, so you won’t even realize you have a medical condition that needs to be addressed. Treating spider veins without addressing the root cause is pointless because the spider veins will inevitably return.
Laser vein therapy removes some of the visible spider veins after multiple sessions spaced weeks apart
Laser vein therapy can only remove the smallest spider veins on the skin’s surface. It can’t treat larger veins, such as reticular veins and varicose veins, and it can’t address vascular conditions deeper inside. You will also need multiple laser vein therapy sessions spaced a few weeks apart to notice improvements. In that sense, laser vein therapy is relatively inefficient.
Laser vein therapy is primarily effective and suitable for tiny spider veins on the feet and face
Laser vein therapy is most suitable for tiny spider veins and broken capillaries on the face and feet. The face and feet are regions with dense artery-vein connections. Injecting sclerosant medicine into arteries is pretty dangerous, so most vein doctors opt for laser vein therapy in these regions instead. As such, if you have spider veins on the face and feet, you may be a suitable candidate for laser vein therapy.
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Sclerotherapy is widely considered the best minimally invasive procedure for spider veins. During a sclerotherapy session, the vein doctor injects a specialized sclerosant medicine into the unhealthy spider veins. The sclerosant medicine fuses the spider veins’ walls, turning them into hardened scar tissues eventually metabolized by the body. One sclerosant injection effectively shuts down one spider vein. The unhealthy spider veins are eventually metabolized by the body, and they fade away from the skin’s surface within three weeks.
Sclerotherapy is performed by skilled vein doctors
Sclerotherapy is generally performed by skilled phlebologists, i.e., vein specialists. You should ideally consult board-certified vein doctors who administer duplex ultrasound tests to visualize the blood flow in your leg veins, determine if you have chronic venous insufficiency, and curate a personalized vein treatment plan.
Sclerotherapy permanently removes spider veins
Sclerotherapy is a permanent treatment for spider veins. Each sclerosant injection effectively closes one spider vein, turning it into scar tissue eventually metabolized by the body within three weeks. Once the spider vein is removed, it can never return. As such, the risk of spider vein recurrence is significantly lower.
Sclerotherapy results appear within a few weeks
Sclerotherapy ensures consistent and reliable results. Your spider veins will look darker and feel harder after the spider vein treatment, but the scar tissues will eventually get metabolized by the body within a few weeks. Most patients notice optimal results within three weeks.
Sclerotherapy concludes within 30 minutes — no downtime
Sclerotherapy is a safe, in-office procedure that concludes within 30 minutes. After the treatment, you can resume most of your daily activities and work immediately, provided you avoid strenuous workouts for a few days. There’s no downtime.
Verdict: Sclerotherapy is Better for Spider Veins
Sclerotherapy is significantly better and more effective than laser vein therapy for spider veins. Laser vein therapy might be more suitable in only one situation — when you have spider veins on your face and feet. When looking for spider vein treatments, you must consult highly-skilled, board-certified vein doctors. The vein specialist will examine your leg veins, discuss your symptoms, determine if you have vein disease, and recommend the ideal spider vein treatment in California.
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