by Ondine Brooks Kuraoka

Are you self-conscious in shorts because of varicose or spider veins? Be comfortable this summer; advances in laser and sclerotherapy make it easier and safer than ever to say goodbye to unwanted veins. Varicose and spider veins are safe to remove; they are no longer functional. With ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, both spider vein clusters and larger varicose veins can be removed in a single treatment. More than one session may be needed but the ultrasound technology allows the surgeon to find and disable networks of veins otherwise invisible to the eye. Only local anesthesia is required and the procedure can usually be completed in 15 minutes to an hour.

For smaller spider veins, laser treatment is most effective. Treatments generally last 10 to 20 minutes. As with sclerotherapy, initial darkening of veins is common but noticeable improvement occurs two to six weeks after treatment. Three sessions, spaced three months apart, are usually necessary.

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