What causes Spider Veins?
Spider veins are small dilated veins that are easily seen on the surface of the skin. While they are most commonly seen on the legs they can also occur on the face. Spider veins are much more commonly affect women than men. They are most caused by heredity, hormonal changes involving estrogen and progesterone, standing, obesity, sun damage and pregnancy. When found on the legs, they can be located on the lateral part of the upper thigh. These veins are the rem ants of the embryologic venous system. They are commonly fed by a larger green reticular vein which can be associated with chronic venous insufficiency. It is important to rule out underlying superficial vein reflux which is considered to be a medical problem.
Treatment options for Spider Veins
While there are different modalities to treat spider veins on the legs currently available including laser and vein wave(TM), sclerotherapy remains the gold standard of treatment. There are two currently available FDA solutions for the treatment of spider veins, sotradecol and polidocanol. They are structurally related solutions with different concentrations and profiles. Either solution is directly injected into the surface spider vein with a very small caliber needle. The solution will cause a local inflammatory reaction within the vein and cause it to seal. It frequently requires multiple injection sessions, each lasting approximately twenty to thirty minutes to accomplish it’s goal. The vein will eventually fade and disappear as the body resorbs it, however, because of hormonal influences most women will form new spider veins in other areas of their legs.
Insurance coverage for Spider Veins
Spider veins are not functioning veins in the circulation. Spider veins are often painless but can cause burning or itching in some instances. The insurance companies consider the treatment of spider veins not a medical necessity and a cosmetic procedure. Because of this it is not a covered procedure. Cost will vary from office to office.
Westchester, New York Spider Vein Treatment Cost
The type of spider vein treatment used can be tailored to the patient. Let us help you decide the best treatment for your health and ask us for spider vein treatment cost estimates, call our Westchester, New York office at 888-265-9597.
Learn more about Will my insurance cover sclerotherapy for my spider veins? at Premier Vein Centers
