Spider Veins

Q: Since having my third child, I have developed spider veins in my legs. What can I do to get rid of them?

A: Leg veins are more common with the third pregnancy. They can be minimized by wearing support hose, keeping legs elevated when possible, avoiding crossing legs when sitting, exercise, and weight management. We do a lot of sclerotherapy (injection of unsightly leg veins) and laser treatments. Usually sclero is more successful then laser. I prefer to do these treatments in the late fall and early winter because usually more than 1 treatment is needed and treatments are usually spaced about one month apart. I also advise support hose and sun avoidance for 6 weeks after a treatment. Treatments are considered cosmetic and usually cost from $200 to $500 depending on the areas treated.

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