Spider Veins Treatments at Dallas Vein Specialists

At Dallas Vein Specialists we believe that for spider veins, also called telangiectasias, of the legs the best results are obtained using the CLaCS (Cryo Laser Cryo Sclerotherapy) procedure. The CLaCS procedure combines the technologies of laser, sclerotherapy, augmented reality, and skin cooling for anesthesia. The augmented reality is provided by the VeinViewer, a device that images veins up to 1.0 centimeter beneath the skin using infrared sensing. The image is then projected back onto the skin in real time. This enables the physician to see the feeder veins that would not be visible without the VeinViewer. The feeder veins are then treated with a transdermal laser, which causes a visible heat injury to the veins. Because of the wavelength of the laser, only the darker veins containing deoxygenated blood are targeted leaving the overlying skin undamaged. These feeder veins, after being damaged by the laser, are then treated with Sclerotherapy whereby a chemical sclerosant is injected, again using the VeinViewer images to guide the sclerotherapy injections. Following this the overlying spider veins of the skin are also treated with laser and injected. The whole CLaCS procedure is done using a cryo unit that produces a continuous flow of cold air to the sites of application of the transdermal laser and sclerotherapy injections. The skin cooling serves to provide surface numbness during the procedure. The results using the CLaCS procedure are far superior to conventional sclerotherapy for feeder veins and spider veins.

Principles of Treatment of Spider Veins of the Leg

At Dallas Vein Specialists the principles of successful treatment of spider veins includes the following:

• Identify a treatable cause if present
• Produce an irreversible injury to the spider vein and if present, the feeder vein

Identify a treatable cause if present – Superficial veins, such as the great saphenous vein that have failing valves and are causing venous high pressure, should be treated before the spider veins are treated, otherwise the result of spider vein treatment will be disappointing. Malfunctioning reticular veins, so-called “feeder veins” that appear to feed or supply spider vein clusters must be targeted for treatment to achieve the best results.

Produce an irreversible injury to the inside lining cells of the spider vein and if present, the feeder vein – This is best done by using the CLaCS (Cryo Laser Cryo Sclerotherapy) procedure whereby injury to the feeder veins is achieved using a transdermal laser and sclerotherapy with both guided by augmented reality viewing using the VeinViewer. While Chemical injections (sclerotherapy) through a small caliber needle in sufficient amount and concentration achieves an injury, the simultaneous combination of the transdermal laser and slcerotherapy together result in much better outcomes. Subsequent to this the body’s inflammatory process removes the vessel and the clot. This may take several weeks depending on the size of the blood vessels and their location.

At Dallas Vein Specialists we use the CLaCS (Cryo Laser Cryo Sclerotherapy) procedure for spider veins and for feeder veins and prominent reticular veins of the legs. The sclerosing chemicals used are gentle and well tolerated. Because of the anesthetic effect of the cold air from the cryo unit directed at the site of laser treatment and injection patients patients usually feel little discomfort during the treatment. There is usually minimal or no discomfort afterwards

Spider Veins of the Face

Facial telangiectasias or fine spider veins are common cosmetic concerns in both men and women. Again heredity plays an important role in most patients. These small hair-like veins may occur anywhere on the face but are commonly seen about and on the nose, around the nostrils, along the fold between the nose and the cheek, and on the prominence of the cheek. They are too small for injection with chemical agents (sclerotherapy).

The VeinGogh device is reserved for treating the fine veins on and around the nose. Using radiofrequency it delivers heat energy at the point of a small needle-like probe to the facial spider veins, which immediately disappear. The results have been good.

Dallas Vein Specialists now has the Dye-VL Pro module device, a high-power phototherapy module for non-invasive treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions of the skin. The Dye-VL allows the treatment of vascular lesions of a wide variety including telangiectasia (spider veins) and rosacea of the face and upper body including the neck and chest areas with astonishingly good results. This technology is a major improvement over the usual intense pulse light (IPL) treatment. The Dye-VL Pro module selectively targets the oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin and melanin, and thus targets blood vessels containing blood and dark pigmented skin lesions. It has also shown excellent results when applied to port wine stains, age spots, and other dark pigmented lesions of the skin. Another advantage of the Dye-VL is its ability to treat larger areas in shorter sessions than the VeinGogh, which targets one vessel at a time.

Cherry Angiomas of the Skin

The VeinGogh device has been effective in the complete removal of cherry angiomas of the skin. Cherry angiomas, also known as “Campbell de Morgan spots” are small bright red mole-like growths that can occur anywhere on the body but most commonly are noticed on the skin of the chest and abdomen. They are small, ranging in size from red dots to 1-2mm and rarely up to several millimeters in diameter. Microscopically they are a mass of tiny capillaries that form a papule on the skin surface. If injured they may bleed profusely. In eradication of them with the VeinGogh device bleeding has not been a problem.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic condition characterized by redness of the cheeks, nose, forehead, or chin resulting from small visible spider web-like blood vessels, telangiectasias. The Dye-VL laser is an excellent treatment for this problem, as it targets the small blood vessels that cause the characteristic appearance of rosacea. The treatment is safe and usually within 1 or 2 treatments the improvement is remarkable. At Dallas Vein Specialists the VeinGogh device has been used to treat rosacea; however, the treatment is time consuming. With the VeinGogh device each tiny vein must be treated individually, whereas with Dye-VL all the involved skin vessels are treated in a rapid and painless manner.