The temperature is rising, the birds are chirping, and you’re out there with pants on to try to cover your legs. Why?! Varicose and spider veins can be unsightly at times and a huge cause of embarrassment and self-consciousness. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. Ariel Ostad MD PC can help you strut through Central Park without a care in the world! 

What Are These Things on My Legs?

As you age, you may notice that your legs aren’t as smooth and blemish-free as they once were. Your veins go through a lot over the course of a lifetime, and sometimes these dilated veins can end up being painful or annoying, causing you to cover up and feel embarrassed. Spider veins and varicose veins affect over 40 million people every year, and it’s more common in women than men. 

• Spider veins are small, damaged blood vessels that are red, purple, or blue and are visible through the skin.
• Varicose veins are unattractive and can sometimes be painful. They present themselves as raised and swollen blue blood vessels that pop up from beneath the skin. These veins are common in the legs and feet.

Vein Treatments

So, how do we get rid of these troublesome veins? At Ariel Ostad MD PC, we offer two options: sclerotherapy and laser therapy. Both of these treatments can get the job done, but it just depends on the form of treatment you wish to undergo. You will first have a consultation with Dr. Ostad so that he can examine your veins and review your medical history. At this time, you may voice your concerns and goals, and the two of you will determine your treatment plan together.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive vein procedure. Dr. Ostad uses a fine needle to inject a solution into the vein. Once in the vein, the solution irritates the walls of the vein, which then causes the vein to collapse and be unusable. The blood that was once flowing through the collapsed vein is now rerouted and flowing through other healthy veins in the body. Over time, the collapsed, destroyed vein is absorbed by the body.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy with Dr. Ariel Ostad is a non-invasive treatment as he uses the excel V™ laser. excel V™, which combines two wavelengths for maximum skin penetration: a 532 nm KTP laser wavelength and two 1064 nm Nd: Yag laser wavelengths, uses pulses of laser energy to target the vein. The laser is absorbed by an irregular blood vessel, and the light of the laser is converted into heat energy. This process causes the blood vessel to collapse and seal shut, eventually being absorbed by the body over time.

Other Treatment Areas

Although most people think of spider veins on their legs, it is also very common for these blemishes to appear on the face. As you age, your blood circulation isn’t as strong, causing the capillaries to dilate. Though this vein condition can develop at any time, there are some men and women who are at a higher risk of experiencing spider veins. Other causes of broken blood vessels include:

• Genetics
• Pregnancy
• Environmental irritants (sun, pollutants, chemicals)
• Rosacea
• Alcohol consumption

For more information about vein treatments, contact Dr. Ariel Ostad online or call us at 212-517-7900.