Is Surgery Necessary for Spider Vein Removal
Are you suffering from spider veins? If so, there are newer, less invasive ways of sealing off bulging and uncomfortable spider veins without the need for surgery. But some procedures may not guarantee a permanent fix of your spider veins or varicose veins.
Take note that veins can grow back after being cut away and sometimes laser treatment can fail to completely seal a vein, which allows blood flow to return gradually. Thus, researchers encourage patients to weigh the risks and benefits with their doctors before deciding which treatment strategy is best.
Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Varicose veins are blood vessels that are large, raised, and swollen that usually twist and turn. Generally, they develop in the legs and can be seen through the skin.
In contrast to varicose veins, spider veins are the smaller, purple, red, and blue appearance that exhibit twisting and turning of blood vessels. Moreover, spider veins are easier to see through the skin, which commonly shows on the face or legs.
Laser Ablation or Vein Stripping
A study involved a number of men and women with varicose veins, which were assigned to get a standard surgical procedure. The spider vein removal in Riverside involved high ligation and saphenous vein stripping or the endovenous laser ablation.
A couple of years passed after the procedure was applied. But it was observed that the overall recurrence of varicose veins was the same among the groups. The symptoms include fatigue, heaviness, itching, pain, and swelling.
Nevertheless, more patients who have had laser ablation sometimes have their varicose veins return or reopened at the spot where the procedure was done, as opposed to those who undergo vein stripping surgery.
The implication of the Study
Both spider vein removal in Riverside can be offered equally to patients suffering from varicose veins. However, patients should be notified that risks could be higher in clinical recurrences after 2 years of the laser ablation procedure.
Cost of Treatment
Aside from the fees to be charged by the surgical center or hospital, vein stripping surgery can cost from $1,500 to $3,000. On the other hand, laser ablation can cost from $600 to $3,000, which depends on how much the condition needs to be treated.
Weighing the Risks and Benefits
Endovenous laser ablation gives a very good option as the study denotes, allowing patients to go back to work after the procedure. But it was also explained that one treatment could not fit all, so there are other treatment options to be considered.
The use of endovenous laser ablation might be best for younger patients due to some research suggestions. That is because it is easier to fix return varicose veins after the spider vein removal in Riverside because young patients are more likely to have the surgery redone.
Vein stripping might only be suitable for older patients with larger veins or more advanced vessel damage. However, more research is required to clarify the patients who can enjoy the most benefits, with the least number of recurrence from each treatment.
We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all vascular health issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County, and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.
