Generality: Dilated thigh and leg veins causing evening ache do not always require surgery. As a matter of fact, many times varicose veins and spider veins can be treated effectively with in-office or home therapy. In this section, you will learn more about the different modalities of treatment for this common condition. Varicose veins are usually greenish to blue in color, they are tortuous, and can greatly vary in size.
At times, they can get inflamed (condition called phlebitis), rubbery at touch, and cause severe pain. Smaller capillary vein characterized by a center point and several departing small veins are called spider veins. They are asymptomatic but look esthetically unappealing.
Anesthesia: None for the spider vein treatment or sclerotherapy; local or general anesthesia for varicose vein surgery.
Type of Procedure: For spider veins, the treatment is always sclerotherapy or injection of a benign chemical irritant into the vein with a minuscule needle. For varicose veins, the treatment ranges from sclerotherapy (for those of smaller size) to excision (for those which are either larger, or painful, or affected by phlebitis). Recovery Time: None after spider vein or varicose vein injection. One after varicose vein excision.
Postoperative Pain: None to minimal.