The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog
The Centre, P.C. offers the latest plastic surgery procedures to patients in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, Michiana and the Southern Michigan area, and Chicago.
What are Spider Veins? - Sunday, November 16, 2008
Spider veins are a type of varicose vein but smaller and closer to the skin surface. Varicose veins are enlarged and may look like twisted cords. They can be purple or blue although sometimes they are flesh-colored. Spider veins are not raised or bulging but may be blueish in color. They most often occur on the legs but sun exposure can cause them on the face if you are fair-skinned.How Veins Work
Blood is pumped from the heart into arteries and carried throughout the body. The arteries branch out, becoming smaller until they are very tiny capillaries at the cellular level. Oxygen moves from arterial blood into the cells and tiny veins carry de-oxygenated blood back to the heart. That venous blood is then pumped into the lungs to be re-oxygenated.
Because venous blood is traveling back to the heart from the body's extremities, it is mostly traveling against the force of gravity. Veins have little valves which open with each heartbeat to allow the blood through and close to prevent backflow. As we age, they can weaken or start to malfunction. Leg veins have the hardest job of flowing uphill, so this is why spider veins most often occur in the legs. The blood becomes pooled in a condition called venous insufficiency and the vein enlarges.
Can Spider Veins be Prevented?
Exercise, especially of the leg muscles, will help prevent spider veins. By contracting the leg muscles, you help the venous blood move along and prevent it from pooling. That helps prevent the small veins from weakening. Contributing causes which could be eliminated are obesity, sun exposure and prolonged standing.
However, spider veins are partly hereditary and are age-related. Hormonal changes can contribute to their formation, and that includes puberty, pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills, and any medication containing estrogen or progesterone.
Spider Vein Treatment
Spider veins may cause no symptoms and do not necessarily need to be treated. If you choose, they can be treated with a laser which targets the blood vessels and leaves surrounding tissue unaffected. The laser heat clots the blood in the spider veins, and the body gradually absorbs it as part of healing after your treatment. Skin burns are prevented by the laser's cooling device which sprays cool liquid before each laser pulse.
To learn more about spider veins, please contact our cosmetic surgery office today and we will schedule a personal consultation for you.
The Centre, P.C. is a unique plastic surgery practice located in northern Indiana. Our heartland values of compassion and concern for your particular needs are complemented by the professional expertise of our surgeons and staff.
At The Centre, P.C., we offer two tracks to patients in Elkhart and South Bend and throughout Indiana and southern Michiana. On the one side are our cosmetic surgery and skin care services and products. And on the other is a coordinated set of services – surgical as well as therapeutic – for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the hand, wrist and forearm due to illness or injury.
- 800.909.2992
Elkhart Office
RiverPointe Medical Building
500 Arcade Ave., Suite 300
Elkhart, IN 46514
FAX: 574-293-1511
Chesterton Office
Duneland Health & Wellness Institute
810 Michael Drive, Suite K
Chesterton, IN 46304
Fax: 219.926.3534
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