Expert Hand Vein Treatment at LA Vein Center
Prominent veins can make your hands look substantially older. Over the years, the skin loses some of its elasticity and volume. This can result in a more noticeable appearance of lumpy, unattractive veins at the skin’s surface. Areas that receive a lot of sun exposure, such as the hands, tend to show these signs of damage even more quickly.
These bulging veins that we can see near the surface of the skin are not even necessary to the circulatory system.
There are veins deeper within the hand that sufficiently transport blood to and from the area. Therefore, if surface hand veins are cosmetically bothersome, it is quite safe to treat them and rid the hands of their presence.
At L.A. Vein Center, we have a variety of options for treating unwanted surface veins on the hands and chest. Sclerotherapy is usually the preferred method, as it offers the most effective results with a simple procedure. In some cases, we also may use endovenous radiofrequency ablation or a microphlebectomy for hand veins.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for Hand or Chest Vein Treatment?
If you have hand or chest veins that are visible and affect how you feel about your appearance, you may be a good candidate for treatment. Most people who want to eliminate the visibility of problematic veins can safely undergo one of our various treatments. During your consultation, Dr. Lee will evaluate your veins, review your medical history, and discuss the options that seem appropriate for you. You may have the opportunity to select from any of our available treatments, truly personalizing your program to your needs and preferences.
How Do You Prepare for Chest or Hand Vein Treatment?
Before your scheduled vein treatment, you may be advised to avoid the use of blood-thinning medications and supplements. A list may be provided to you in your pre-treatment packet. If you have questions about what you should take and what you should avoid, please do not hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you have a comfortable, successful treatment! Ideally, the doctor prefers if you do not smoke or you refrain from smoking during the week or two before your vein treatment, depending on the technique that you select to have performed. Due to the visibility of the skin on the hands and chest, it is beneficial to be diligent about wearing sunscreen every day and limiting sun exposure in the days before your appointment.
Can I Combine Treatments for My Chest and Hand Veins?
You may benefit from combining different techniques into your broader treatment plan. Perhaps you have a few visible, ropy veins on your arms or the backs of your hands but you do not want to close them off, but you prefer to fully eradicate visible chest veins for good. In this case, you might choose to disguise your hand veins using dermal filler treatment while eliminating your chest veins with sclerotherapy or another vein closure technique. The details of your treatment will be carefully planned as you collaborate with Dr. Lee on it.
What Happens if I Do Not Treat My Hand or Chest Veins?
Medically speaking, hand and chest veins are typically not observed as concerning. Unlike the varicose veins that develop in the lower extremities, these veins usually do not progress into worsening symptoms like ulcers and skin discoloration. The consequences of not getting treatment for hand or chest veins are solely cosmetic and related to how you feel about your appearance. Knowing this is an important aspect of general wellness, Dr. Lee proudly provides treatment to eliminate these troublesome veins.
Will the Results of My Vein Treatment Look Natural?
Yes. If you choose a treatment like sclerotherapy for hand or chest veins, the discoloration and bulging will simply fade away over time, leaving behind no signs that the vein was ever there. If you choose to have the appearance of veins diminished using dermal filler injections, the treatment area will increase in volume only enough to hide the vein or veins. Your hands, arms, or chest will not be altered in overall shape. The area will not look unnaturally puffy. Rather, your skin will look smooth and healthy after your vein procedure.
Sclerotherapy Treatment for Hand Veins
One of the most effective forms of treatment for hand veins is sclerotherapy. This medical procedure involves the injection of a sclerosant solution into the prominent veins, which causes irritation and their eventual collapse. The treated veins are ultimately absorbed into the body and the blood is redirected naturally to flow through other, healthier veins.
Performed in your doctor’s office, sclerotherapy procedures typically take less than 30 minutes. Some patients will only need one session of sclerotherapy to completely resolve their hand veins, while others may require multiple sessions. Anesthesia is not necessary and most patients report experiencing little to no pain, other than perhaps just a mild burning sensation. After the skin is cleaned with an antiseptic solution, the sclerosant is injected into the affected veins with a very fine needle. The number of injections per session varies based on the number and length of the damaged veins.
After sclerotherapy, most patients can return to normal activities the same day. Compression bandages may need to be worn for several days after the procedure.
Radiesse Treatment for Hand Veins
People forget about the backs of their hands when they think of the signs of aging. But, thanks to sun damage, declining collagen production, and thinning skin, the tendons and veins on the backs of our hands become more and more visible.
Radiesse was the first dermal filler approved by the FDA for use on the back of the hands. This was way back in 2015. It fills out the shrunken look that comes with aging hands, leaving a smooth, natural-looking result. Radiesse also minimizes the visibility of veins and tendons, another byproduct of volume loss. By providing instant volume, plus encouraging the production of new collagen, Radiesse makes your hands look remarkably younger with results that last up to a year.
Microphlebectomy for Hand Veins
As with hand veins that are too large for sclerotherapy, some may not be right for radiofrequency ablation either. In these cases, Dr. Lee may use micro phlebectomy to remove the unwanted unsightly veins.
First, Dr. Lee marks the targeted vein or veins to remove. Then she injects a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. You’ll feel a slight tugging sensation during the procedure but no pain.
To access the vein, tiny incisions are made on the surface skin on the back of the hand. The incisions are so small (basically the size of a ballpoint pen tip, 2-3 mm) they don’t require sutures to close. Through these incisions, Dr. Lee then inserts a small surgical hook. She grasps the unwanted vein and pulls out a section. Because the vein collapses, it can easily be drawn out through the tiny incision. This is repeated on remaining sections down the vein until it is completely removed.
When your microphlebectomy is finished, Dr. Lee applies a short stretch bandage.
Is there any preparation for hand vein removal?
There isn’t any special preparation required for removing unwanted hand veins.
What are the risks involved with hand vein removal?
These procedures involve very low risk. There can be some inflammation and swelling across the back of the hand. This passes as the area calms down. There is a slight risk of infection, but this is exceedingly rare.
Chest Veins
Certain people, especially those with fair skin, have prominent blue veins visible beneath the skin of the chest or breasts. As we age, our skin tissue loses fat and volume. This can cause the veins near the surface of the skin to become more obvious. In addition, breast augmentation and nursing can increase the prominence of these veins. While most cases of noticeable chest veins are completely harmless, it can be cosmetically unattractive to some.
Many patients are bothered by the appearance of prominent veins on areas such as the chest or breasts, and seek to keep them covered up with high-necked clothing. However, treatment to diminish chest veins and restore a clear appearance is safe, fast, and successful.
Chest Vein Treatment Options
Just as with the backs of the hands, we use the same methods for unwanted chest veins. Visible chest veins are more common in people with fair skin as their aging skin thins and lose some underlying fat. This allows the small blue veins to show through. We use sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, and intense pulsed light to treat chest veins.
Sclerotherapy Treatment for Chest Veins
One of the most effective forms of treatment for chest veins is sclerotherapy. This medical procedure involves the injection of a sclerosant solution into the prominent veins, which causes irritation and their eventual collapse. The treated veins are ultimately absorbed into the body and the blood is redirected naturally to flow through other nearby veins.
Performed in your doctor’s office, sclerotherapy procedures typically take less than 30 minutes. Some patients will only need one session of sclerotherapy to completely resolve their chest veins, while others may require multiple sessions. Anesthesia is not necessary and most patients report experiencing little to no pain, other than perhaps just a mild burning sensation. After the skin is cleaned with an antiseptic solution, the sclerosant is injected into the affected veins with a very fine needle. The number of injections per session varies based on the number and length of the visible veins.
Laser Chest Vein Removal
The procedure for removing chest veins with our diode laser is the same as used on the hands and described above.
Intense Pulsed Light for Chest Vein Removal
Intense Pulsed Light is similar to laser energy, but it involves a wider wavelength of light energy. IPL is used for many aesthetic skin concerns, especially the removal of pigmented areas of sun-damaged skin, as the melanin in the skin absorbs the light energy and breaks up the color, removing the age spots, etc.
For chest and facial veins, the hemoglobin in the veins absorbs the light energy. For IPL vein treatment, we use the handpiece and direct short pulses of light energy down onto the surface skin above the spider vein. Because we have set the wavelength of the light energy to match the color of the unwanted vein, the blood in the vein absorbs the light energy. This heats the vein, causing the vein walls to become irritated and close off. Any blood in the vein is rerouted as detailed above, and the vein disappears. Over the course of the next few weeks, the body completely absorbs the unused vein and it eventually is completely removed.
What are the risks of laser and IPL removal of chest veins?
Just as with the hands, these are very low-risk procedures.
Schedule Your Vein Treatment Consultation Today
Contact our office to learn more about our Hand & Chest Veins services, or to make an appointment.