What causes leg veins to become visible?
No one really knows why leg veins become visible, but they do run in families and are more frequently seen in women than in men. Puberty, pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and trauma all seem to bring them on. How are leg veins treated? In the majority of cases, a procedure called sclerotherapy is used in which an irritating solution is injected with a very small needle directly into an unwanted vessel. This causes the lining to close up and the blood inside to coagulate, thereby sealing off the vessel. Over a period of weeks, the vessel becomes thin and fibrous and barely visible. How many treatment sessions will I need to eliminate my leg veins? In any one session, many vessels can be treated. However, it may take more than one session to accomplish the desired fading. If needed, individual vessels can be retreated a few weeks later. How much improvement can I expect? Most patients can expect a 50 to 90 percent improvement after several treatments. Can scler
