Help with spider veins

[4forWDW]

Do any of the creams work for spider veins??
I have some which are noticeable and didn't want to waste money if the creams didn't work.
TIA!

 

[Justsyd2]

The only creams that work are self-tanners, which help to cover them up. There are no creams that make them go away. Sorry.

 

[badblackpug]

Nope creams don't work. You can have a dermatologist inject them, which does work, but it is an out of pocket expense as insurance considers it cosmetic.

 

[4forWDW]

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[4forWDW]

Nope creams don't work. You can have a dermatologist inject them, which does work, but it is an out of pocket expense as insurance considers it cosmetic.

Is that procedure expensive?

 

[PurplePinkleEater]

If you have other deeper vein issues, those need to be addressed first.

I had a laser thing done several months ago to both legs. That is usually covered by insurance with your copayment. This is much easier on you than the vein stripping that is an older procedure.

The injections are considered cosmetic. The stuff my doctor used cost $100 per vial. I had three vials injected and need to have a fourth done.

Best to do this in the fall because you cannot expose your legs to sunlight for a few months.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

The injections are much effective than laser treatments. I had a patch of very small veins on my lower leg. The first time I had a laser treatment. VERY minimal results. The second time I had a few injections. The small patch of veins is completely gone.

Insurance doesn't cover SPIDER VEINS (at least MY insurance doesn't + the cosmetic surgeon said most don't since they are considered "cosmetic" and not health-related). If this were VERICOSE VEINS, it would be a whole different ball of wax.

COST: LASER= $75 per treatment
INJECTIONS: $275 per treatment

 

[semo233]

It seems to me that results vary. I had the saline injections done about 5 years ago (talk about torture! She stuck needle into me every couple of seconds for 20 minutes...I could not WAIT to get out of there!) She told me that the worst section of spider veins had a 30% chance of coming back.....and guess what? They did.

I think it was about $100-150. I was told that the price was per treatment, not vial and I have no idea how many vials she used...maybe even just one.
Good Luck!

 

[homeschool101]

Have you researched supplements that might help with vein integrity? Vitamin C, in large doses, is said to be helpful and it may have other health benefits.

 

[4forWDW]

Thanks to everyone for the information.
I really appreciate it

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

The laser helped me and I do not have any of the veins left. I had 5 treatments done 2 years ago and had my last follow-up last week.

 

[magik]

Have you researched supplements that might help with vein integrity? Vitamin C, in large doses, is said to be helpful and it may have other health benefits.

Vitamin C in large doses can also cause...um unpleasant bathroom issues, and may interfere with the effectiveness of hormonal birth control. Just putting this out there. Vitamin C is great, but you know you've taken too much if you end up visiting the toilet urgently.

 

[PurplePinkleEater]

The injections are much effective than laser treatments. I had a patch of very small veins on my lower leg. The first time I had a laser treatment. VERY minimal results. The second time I had a few injections. The small patch of veins is completely gone.

Insurance doesn't cover SPIDER VEINS (at least MY insurance doesn't + the cosmetic surgeon said most don't since they are considered "cosmetic" and not health-related). If this were VERICOSE VEINS, it would be a whole different ball of wax.

COST: LASER= $75 per treatment
INJECTIONS: $275 per treatment

FYI - The laser procedure I was talking about was not for surface spider veins. Mine involved painful larger veins that had become vericose from pregnancy. Mine throbbed. I had a family history of it though.

And if you are not done having children I wouldn't bother until you are.

 

[FINFAN]

I had the saline injections back in 2001, did not do much at all,,,had the injections ( felt like bee stings), had to wear the support stockings ...Iisaw minimal improvement, only to see new clusters pop out in subsequent years. I live in capri's...even in WDW heat. I swear i am the ONLY one in my town of 140,000 that has them. I look, all these legs that are tanned and toned and vein free...I guess the treatments worked for everyone else. They are hereditary, my DD is dreading getting them. When the maxi dresses came back in style, I was SO happy! I hate wearing a bathing suit, had a little kid ask me once if they hurt, bless his heart...so I know how noticeable they are. The worst is the numbness and swelling you feel tho...tends to tire me out. Insurance is very tricky on this..unless an ultrsound shows you have blood flow issues, circulation issues, they will not touch it. I do ( valves in my veins do not open properly for the flow to go upward)but it was still a struggle to get insurance to cover my procedures, and like I said, did not solve the issue, just moved where new ones occured. I also was told that clotting can occur, and clots tend to travel upward toward the heart. No t sure how true or frequent this is, but it was enough for me to take note. I hate the veins, SO self concious of them, but for now, they are a part of me I just have to deal with.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Has anyone ever tried the circulation vitamins from Andrew Lessman for their spider veins? Just wondering if they (or any similar product) are any good. Also wondering if anyone else has any experience with laser treatments for their spider veins?

 

[Tigge50447]

I had laser done on a major vien in my leg. Everyone told me it was wasn't bad, but man the 12 needles they put in my leg to numb it hurt like heck. And it was sore for about 2 weeks later. I had to wear special stockings that cost like $95 that my insurance didn't cover but it did work..... don't want to do it again so hopefully they don't come back.

 

[maxiesmom]

I had both the injections for spider veins, and the thing where they shove a cathater up the vein and heat it so it collapses. I didn't feel a thing with the spider vein injections, and am thinking about having more done. The cathater procedure, on the other hand, hurt like the dickins. I had more pain from that than I did when I had surgery done on my knee. I don't think I will be volunteering for that one again.

 

[floridascgirl]

I had the saline injections done when I was in college, but it was just a temporary fix because the @%*! things returned within a couple of years. When my DS was little he pointed to my leg and said, "Mommy, somebody drew on you with marker."

 

[Mau Loa Disney]

Has anyone ever tried the circulation vitamins from Andrew Lessman for their spider veins? Just wondering if they (or any similar product) are any good. Also wondering if anyone else has any experience with laser treatments for their spider veins?

Hi, I dont know what Andrew Lessman puts in the circulation vitamins, but I went to the Health Food Store because i was noticing spider veins on my upper thighs and he told me to get Horse Chestnut. He said they couldnt keep it in stock so many ladies come in asking for it. I bought some a couple of weeks ago. They veins dont seem as noticable BUT my legs are pretty tan from being at the pool, Oh and I do take alot of vitamin c, maybe that has helped. Just thought I would give you a herb to research, I had never heard of it, i try to keep up with anything that might help, My Gma has them bad so most likely I will too

This is copied from eHow

Herbal remedies for spider veins seek to increase circulation and the strength of vein walls so they no longer leak and decrease CVI. Over time, the appearance of spider veins may decrease with the use of these remedies.

Horse chestnut contains the compound aescin, which strengthens vein walls and makes them less likely to leak blood into surrounding tissue. In 18 clinical trials involving 1,258 people and three observational studies involving 10,725 people in 2002, the majority of people who were given horse chestnut in capsule form showed a decrease in pain and a decrease in CVI.

Take 50 to 300 mcg of horse chestnut extract two to three times a day for six weeks. It is available as a capsule or tincture. Avoid raw horse chestnut seeds, as these seeds are poisonous. The horse chestnut sold in stores has been processed to remove these toxins. Don't take horse chestnut if you have kidney or liver problems or if you are pregnant or might become pregnant.