Get Gorgeous Legs with Our Spider Vein Treatment in Cincinnati

Have you noticed yourself going to great lengths to cover up your legs during the summer? Thanks to spider veins, many people feel extra self-conscious about showing their skin. The good news is you do not have to suffer with the problematic red or blue veins that have popped up on your face, legs, or other area.

At Amy Brenner, MD & Associates, we are proud to be Cincinnati’s premier medical aesthetics destination. We offer dozens of treatments, including our sclerotherapy spider vein treatment, to help our patients achieve gorgeous skin they can show off and feel proud of.

Below, we explain spider veins, their causes, and our amazing spider vein treatment in Cincinnati using sclerotherapy.

What is a spider vein?

When small, superficial red or blue veins gather below the surface of the skin, a tree branch or spider-like vein appears on the skin. Spider veins are usually not harmful to your health, but can make many feel uncomfortable or self-conscious in shorts, swimwear, or their birthday suits.

Though they can occur anywhere on the body, we typically find spider veins on the thighs, ankles, calves, and face. It’s estimated that twice as many women experience spider veins as men.

Causes of spider veins & other vascular lesions

Spider veins are not completely understood yet. We know spider veins occur when the vein’s valves stop closing properly. The blood leaks back into the vein, creating pressure that causes the vein to grow larger and discolored.

Spider veins most commonly occur in the legs because the veins in your legs must carry blood to your heart against gravity and for the longest distance. Tiny blood vessels bursting in the face results in facial spider veins.

Factors that correlate with spider veins include:

      • Genetics – if family members experience spider veins, you are much more likely to have them, too
      • Sitting or standing for long periods of time (think nurses or office jobs)
      • Sun exposure
      • Hormonal birth control
      • Age
      • Weight gain or obesity
      • A history of blood clots
      • Leg injuries
      • Excess pressure in the face (from forceful coughing, sneezing, or vomiting)

What spider vein treatment does Amy Brenner, MD & Associates offer?

At Amy Brenner, MD & Associates, we offer the most historically effective spider vein treatment, sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that has been used since the 1930s and involves using a tiny needle to inject an FDA-approved solution (called a “sclerosing agent”) into spider veins.

The solution causes the walls of these veins to seal shut. The spider vein then gets absorbed by nearby tissue and fades. Most patients see the treated veins disappear over 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on how quickly their body absorbs the tissue.

The best candidates for sclerotherapy spider vein treatments are generally healthy adults without blood clotting issues in the past and have not given birth or been pregnant in the last 3 months.
What areas can sclerotherapy treat?
With our sclerotherapy spider vein treatment, we can eliminate spider veins on your:

  • Thighs
  • Calves
  • Ankles
  • Feet
  • Other areas of the body with spider veins

What to expect when you come to our specialists for your spider vein treatment in Cincinnati

Consultation

All patients at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates must first consult with our team so we understand their goals and concerns and to ensure they make a fully informed decision for their health. We will evaluate your general health, examine your spider veins, and discuss your options to create a customized treatment plan for you.

At your consultation, a trained vein specialist will examine your veins to ensure sclerotherapy is the right treatment for you. If we believe your spider veins require the attention of your physician or an ultrasound before proceeding with treatment, we will let you know!

Pre-Treatment

When we schedule your appointment for your spider vein treatment in Cincinnati at our office, we will provide you with important pre-treatment instructions.

Generally, we ask that you:

  • Avoid taking anti-inflammatory medications like Advil, ibuprofen, or aspirin for at least a week. This includes blood-thinning supplements like Vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, and fish oil.
  • Bring or wear comfortable shorts to wear during the treatment and loose-fitting pants to wear home.
  • Make sure you have compression stockings for use after your procedure. Your sclerotherapy specialist will provide you with a recommendation for size and pressure.

During Treatment

On the day of your sclerotherapy appointment, we will make sure you are comfortably laying down before beginning the treatments. First, we will cleanse the treatment areas. Then, we will use a thin needle to deliver the solution into the appropriate veins. The number of injections we perform will depend on the number and size of veins we treat.

After 15 to 60 minutes of treatment, your sclerotherapy specialist will have you walk with your compression stockings on to prevent the formation of blood clots.

Post-Treatment

We will provide you with important post-treatment instructions to ensure you get the best results from your spider vein treatment.

We ask that you:

  • Wear a compression garment continuously for 14 days to maintain compression on the treated vein
  • Avoid contact sports, strenuous cardio workouts, or use of leg weights for at least 10 days
  • Avoid hot tubs, saunas, warm baths, and sun exposure for at least 3 days

Is sclerotherapy painful? Do I need to plan for recovery?

Sclerotherapy is generally well tolerated with no anesthesia. During injections, patients report feeling some cramping, burning, or stinging that subsides after we have treated the vein.

There is no required downtime with sclerotherapy. If you do not feel any lingering discomfort or soreness in your legs, you can go back to work or continue your daily activities after leaving our office. In fact, we encourage some light activity the same day to promote circulation and healing.

In the days after treatment, you will experience slightly swollen and raised spider veins. In 2 to 3 weeks, the veins will fade and will continue to improve in appearance until they disappear entirely.

How often to return to our Cincinnati office for spider vein treatments

About a month after your treatment, we will schedule a follow-up appointment to evaluate the results and determine if you need another treatment to address your bothersome spider veins.

Effectively treated veins collapse, die, and your body naturally eliminates them. However, new spider veins could appear in the future, making additional sclerotherapy appointments necessary.

How much does Sclerotherapy cost?

Is there any way to prevent new spider veins?

You can take certain measures at home to prevent the formation of new spider veins. To lower your risk, the team at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates suggests the below.

Note: if genetics or aging cause your spider veins, prevention is difficult.

Relieve pressure

Excess pressure makes it difficult for your leg veins to deliver blood back to your heart. To relieve this pressure, keep your weight manageable and avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.

Do not cross your legs or sit on them, and take a walk every 30 to 60 minutes to keep pressure down. Avoid tight clothing that can restrict blood flow and cause pressure buildup (We’re looking at you, skinny jeans 👀)

Increase circulation

Poor circulation can cause blood clots and backups. Exercising, especially any activity that involves your legs, is a great way to improve blood circulation and prevent new spider veins from forming.

Compression stockings are your friend

If you must sit or stand for long periods, we recommend compression stockings or socks. Compression garments put pressure on the veins, relieving swelling and improving blood flow.

A range of compression stockings and socks are available for purchase at many pharmacies or online.

Protect yourself from the sun

UV light from the sun damages the skin and causes broken blood vessels and spider veins to appear on the face. Everyone, especially our fair-skinned ladies and gentlemen, need to wear a minimum of SPF 30 daily (with reapplication!) to prevent the formation of spider veins on the cheeks or nose.

Kick your feet back & relax

Do your veins a favor and get in the habit of elevating your legs when sitting or laying down. This allows the blood to flow from your legs to your heart easier and prevents blood from pooling in the legs.

Complementary procedures to sclerotherapy spider vein treatments

Amy Brenner, MD & Associates offers several aesthetic procedures that can perfectly complement the results of sclerotherapy treatments. We find that when paired with the below treatments, patients feel even more confident in their clear, gorgeous skin! 🙌

Laser Hair Removal

Using the power of focused light, we can target and destroy hair follicles at the root. At Amy Brenner, MD & Associates, we own one of the most advanced laser hair removal systems to help our patients achieve smooth, beautiful skin.

If you really want gorgeous gams you can’t wait to show off, a one-two punch of spider vein treatments and laser hair removal might be just the ticket!

Schedule a consultation with our specialists for a spider vein treatment in Cincinnati today.

At Amy Brenner, MD & Associates, our spider vein treatments go beyond our expertise. Our entire staff is dedicated to helping every single patient look and feel their best every day.

Whether you’re a long-time patient of our office or you’re visiting us for the first time, we love sharing our expertise with you to help you make the best decisions for your skincare and wellness needs.

If you have any questions or would like to discover which Cincinnati med spa treatments would work best for you, feel free to book your appointment or simply give us a call to get started!

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