Vein Surgery For Younger-Looking Legs

Unsightly veins can make your legs look older and make you feel self-conscious, but leg vein surgery and other treatment options can help.

If you have varicose veins or spider veins in your legs, you’re not alone. It is estimated that more than half of American women and one-third of American men have leg vein problems.

These issues can make you feel insecure about exposing your legs, since they can make your legs appear unsightly and older. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments that can remove or improve the appearance of leg vein problems.

Treatment Options for Leg Vein Problems

In most cases, leg vein conditions are not dangerous, so most people choose to treat varicose and spider veins for cosmetic reasons. But in some cases leg vein problems need to be treated, possibly with vein surgery, because they can lead to blood clots, sores, skin ulcers, or painful irritation in the legs.

Whether your want to treat your leg veins for cosmetic or medical reasons, your treatment options include:

Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for leg vein problems. In this procedure, a doctor injects a solution into the vein that causes it to collapse; this stops the flow of blood and causes the vein to fade. Sclerotherapy can be performed without anesthesia in a doctor's office, and you can return to your normal activities immediately after the treatment. You may need multiple treatments to achieve desired results. Side effects of sclerotherapy may include pain, redness, sores, or bruising around the injection site; spots, brown lines, or tiny red blood vessels around the treated vein; and bulges of clotted blood in the treated vein. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), each session of sclerotherapy

Laser surgery. Laser surgery can be used to treat spider veins that are 3 millimeters in size or less. This procedure involves targeting lasers at spider veins so they will slowly fade and disappear. Laser vein surgery is non-invasive, and you will be able to return to your normal routine immediately. But it can take two to five treatments to completely remove spider veins, and the heat from the laser can be painful. Possible side effects include temporary redness or swelling around the treated area, temporary discoloration on skin that may last one to two months, and burns from the laser. According to the ASPS, laser vein surgery costs an average of $400 per session.

Endovenous leg vein treatment. Endovenous radiofrequency and laser treatment involves placing a small tube into a larger varicose vein and sending radiofrequency or laser energy into the vein, causing it to shrink. Like sclerotherapy and laser surgery, endovenous treatments can usually be performed in the doctor's office and you can return to your normal activities immediately. In some cases, endovenous treatment can lead to slight bruising. An endovenous treatment generally costs $2,000to $3,000 and may be covered by insurance if deemed medically necessary.

Vein surgery. In some cases of severe varicose veins, a surgery known as surgical ligation and stripping may be necessary. This procedure requires anesthesia and has to be performed in an operating room. Your surgeon will tie affected veins closed and completely remove them from your leg. The risks of vein surgery include reactions to anesthesia, bleeding, blood clots, wound infection, scarring, nerve damage, and pain that may last up to four weeks after surgery. Vein surgery is significantly more expensive than non-surgical treatments, but may be covered by medical insurance if your leg veins are affecting your health.

If you’re concerned about varicose or spider veins in your legs, talk with your doctor. He or she can take X-rays and ultrasound images of your veins to further diagnose your condition, and refer you to a doctor who specializes in vein diseases, if necessary.