Spider Veins Specialist

Soffer Health Institute

Cardiologists, Telemedicine, & Primary Care located in Hollywood, Weston & North Miami, FL

Those threadlike veins in your legs may not hurt, but they may be an indication of an underlying vein issue. At Soffer Health Institute, with offices in Weston and Hollywood Florida, experienced vein specialist, Ariel Soffer, MD, FACC, and the medical team offer comprehensive vein evaluations in office and through telemedicine appointments. Dr. Soffer and the staff customize a care plan to treat painful spider veins or to enhance the aesthetic appearance of your legs. To find out more about treatment options for spider veins, contact the office nearest you by phone or through the online tool.

Spider Veins Q & A

What are spider veins?

Spider veins appear just beneath the surface of your skin and are often red, blue, or purple in color. As the name suggests, spider veins branch out like a spider web and most often form on your legs or face.

The root cause of spider veins is valve issues that interfere with the normal flow of blood through your veins. Typically, a valve opens to allow blood to flow through and closes to prevent it from traveling backward.

When it’s not functioning properly, a valve can allow blood to leak backward through the vein. This causes a weakening in the vein walls and allows the blood to pool.

When should I schedule an evaluation of spider veins?

While spider veins typically aren’t painful, there are some signs you need to watch for. Schedule an evaluation at Soffer Health Institute if you have signs of a blood clot, such as:

Warmth
Swelling
Redness
Tenderness

You should also request an evaluation if you have any leg pain or skin discoloration surrounding the vein. Soffer Health Institute can also provide consultations via telemedicine appointments and determine if you need to come into the office.

How are spider veins diagnosed?

The team at Soffer Health Institute offers physical exams to evaluate spider veins and the general health of your legs. They often rely on an exam to confirm visible veins but may request an ultrasound to assess dysfunction in your vein.

The providers also perform venograms, which involve an injection of a special dye into the affected vein to identify existing blood clots.

How are spider veins treated?

If you’re not having pain or other bothersome symptoms, you may not need treatment for spider veins. However, your provider at Soffer Health Institute may suggest lifestyle changes and wearing compression socks to improve circulation. The team always uses the least invasive treatments first.

If you have painful spider veins or wish to treat them for cosmetic reasons, the team may recommend noninvasive laser treatment or surgery to destroy or remove the veins. This type of surgery uses minimally invasive techniques that require only small incisions.

In addition to treating existing spider veins, the team at Soffer Health Institute can provide guidance for preventing new ones. This may involve incorporating more activity in your daily life and eating healthy foods to support vein health.

You should also maintain a healthy body weight and avoid sitting for long periods of time without a break.

To find out more about your options for treating and preventing spider veins, contact the Soffer Health Institute office nearest you by phone or through the online booking system. Please note that during the coronavirus crisis, most televisits are 100% insurance covered with no copays.