Treating Spider Veins

MYFOXNY.COM - Dr. Bruce Katz is a clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the director of the Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Clinic at Mount Sinai Medial Center, and the director of the Juva Skin & Laser Center in New York. He took questions about spider veins online and answered some of them in a live chat and on Fox 5 News.

Dr. Katz, who has been named repeatedly by New York Magazine as one of the best doctors in New York, received his medical training at McGill University Faculty of Medicine in Montreal, Canada. He completed his post-graduate training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was Chief Resident in Dermatology.

A frequent guest on national and international news shows, including The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, The View, 20/20, Good Morning America and CNN, Dr. Katz is a leading innovator of advanced laser technology, smart and power liposuction, and skin rejuvenation techniques.

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DR. KATZ'S ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

Q: What type of treatment produces the best results? Will they come back?

Dr. Katz: Most people respond to either sclerotherapy or laser treatments depending on the size of the veins. Once the veins are treated, they do not come back.

Q: Is sclerotherapy painful? Does it get rid of the spider veins forever?

Dr. Katz: With sclerotherapy, we use tiny needles which are really not painful. There is only a slight pricking sensation. None of my patients have ever said that the treatment was too painful to continue.

Q: What are the potential risks with the treatments?

Dr. Katz: The most common side effects are mild bruising and swelling. Occasionally there can be pigmentation which lasts for a short period of time and rarely a small ulcer.

Q: I had sclerotherapy with good results, but after a long time I got more spider veins. Would ambulatory phlebectomy keep them from coming back?

Dr. Katz: We only use ambulatory phlebectomy for varicose veins. Once spider veins are treated, they do not come back but veins may develop in other locations in the future.

Q: Where are spider veins most likely to occur?

Dr. Katz: Spider veins occur mostly on the legs but can also be seen on the face and body.

Q: If untreated, do they become painful?

Dr. Katz: If untreated, spider veins don't become painful but there can be a mild aching sensation where they are located.

Q: If I have small spider veins now and don't treat them, will they get bigger with time?

Dr. Katz: If spider veins are untreated, they can become larger and more extensive.

Q: Are spider veins are a sign of something unhealthy or dangerous?

Dr. Katz: Spider veins are not a sign of something unhealthy and are not dangerous. They are really just a cosmetic issue. By removing them, it does not affect the blood circulation.

Q: My mother has varicose veins. What should she do.?

Dr. Katz: If your mother has varicose veins, we can remove them with a technique called ambulatory phlebectomy. This is an office procedure done under local anesthesia. She will go home right after and just has to wear support stockings for about a week.

Q: What is the average cost for treatment? Is the treatment covered by insurance?

Dr. Katz: Cost varies based on the number of veins treated. Average cost is about $400-$600 per treatment. Most spider vein treatments are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.

Q: Are spider veins hereditary?

Dr. Katz: Yes, spider veins often do run in families.

Q: What causes spider veins? Can too much sun cause them on the face?

Dr. Katz: There are a variety of causes of spider veins. Most often, they run in families. But they can develop after pregnancy and with hormone treatments. Spider veins that occur on the face can be caused by too much sun exposure.

Q: Are there any foods or things you should stay away from to prevent spider veins from getting worse?

Dr. Katz: Spider veins are not affected by eating any types of foods.

Q: If you have spider veins on your lower legs, do age and weight matter if you want them treated?

Dr. Katz: Spider veins can be treated at any age; weight does not affect treatment.

Q: I'm an older woman and I wear supportive panty hose. I think I've noticed that my spider veins have gotten worse since then. Am I being paranoid?

Dr. Katz: You're not being paranoid but support hose does not make spider veins worse.