Sclerotherapy: A medical procedure used to eliminate varicose veins and “spider veins” in the legs.  During the procedure, an injection of a solution (generally sodium chloride) is placed directly into the vein using a tiny needle.

You’ve always admired those people with ice water in their veins.  We admire the legs of those with salt water in them.  Sclerotherapy, a procedure that involves injecting a liquid solution directly into visible veins, primarily in the legs, has been used to treat those tiny blue-purplish “spider veins” since the 1930s.

Untangling, er, erasing those unsightly web-like spots is very easy, and both discomfort and cost are fairly low.  Using a needle, the solution is injected into the affected area, irritating the lining of the vein, which closes itself off; similar to the approach you take with annoying relatives around the holidays.  They get under your skin, irritate you, you close yourself off ‘til next time.  Your veins, however, don’t open themselves up again.  The blood is rerouted through other veins and, without a blood supply, the visible veins fade.  There is a slight chance some veins won’t respond to this treatment.  Veins that do respond won’t reappear, but new spider or varicose veins can develop.  A newer, ultrasound-guided technique allows dermatologists to treat veins that lie deeper under the skin that previously could only be reached through surgery.

The procedure can sometimes be used to treat varicose veins as well. Both varicose and spider veins are caused by various stresses to the affected areas. In the legs, it can be as simple as prolonged sitting, standing or crossing of the legs — anything that affects how easily blood flows to the area.  High heels, obesity and even Mom and Dad contribute to your potential of developing them, as they are passed on genetically.

Most patients find the discomfort of sclerotherapy minimal, especially when compared to large family gatherings.  The injections are reported to feel like bee stings and there is a short burning sensation.  The treated area may be red and swollen for a day or two, but there really isn’t any down time.  Strenuous exercise should be avoided for a few days after treatment, and patients will have to wear compression stockings for several days as the area heals, which could make you regret making fun of Aunt Anabelle’s fashion choice years ago.

Sclerotherapy is most often performed on women, but a growing number of men are opting for the treatments. With a very high success and satisfaction rate, sclerotherapy remains among the top 10 most popular procedures (8th overall in 2008) despite the rise in laser treatments being offered.  The cost per session ranges from $100-$400, and treatment usually requires 2-6 sessions, depending on the size of the veins.

This method was also regularly used to treat spider veins in the face, but these days, lasers are usually used in that area.

RESOURCES

• The Vein Directory offers helpful information and includes a video of an actual sclerotherapy treatment.
• Satisfaction rate for sclerotherapy fluctuates among patients at Realself.com.
• See large veins disappear before your very eyes on this YouTube video.

Starting off on the wrong foot is such a bummer, right?  Now you can do something about it.

Foot facelifts and cosmetic foot surgery are becoming as mainstream as open-toed shoes.  Or maybe we should say they’re becoming mainstream BECAUSE of open-toed shoes. With sexy slides and slinky sandals as the accepted style choice, there’s nowhere for ugly piggies to hide. A pedicure alone won’t improve “toe cleavage.”

Designer feet are gaining a toehold in medical offices around the country. Even the podiatrists are evolving their thinking.  The Manhattan phone book is filled with “Cosmetic Foot Surgeons,” indicating a market need that has nothing to do with pain.  The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) surveyed their podiatric surgeons recently and found 51 percent of their patients are asking for cosmetic procedures on their hoofs, according to CosmeticSurgery.com.

Made popular by runway models who are expected to balance themselves on spikes, these “toe tucks” have gone well beyond getting Botox shots in your arches to relieve the discomfort of five inch stilettos.  Women are getting their foot bones broken, shaved, reshaped – and in extreme cases, we’ve read reports of amputation of whole toes – for the sake of foot vanity.

Knowing several women who have had simple (we use the word “simple” very broadly here) bunion surgery, we can tell you emphatically that the result is amazing and beautiful and today’s surgery rarely leaves scars. We can also tell you the pain is astounding and the recovery time is long – several weeks of bandages, 6-8 weeks with some sort of cast or boot and months of swelling and discomfort. Depending on what you have done, costs may range from $4,000-$12,000, but we couldn’t find definitive price estimates.  No doctor is quoting fees for slicing off a whole toe yet, we suspect.  Of course, if your surgery is a medical necessity because of the pain and side effects from bunions or hammertoe, insurance may cover some or most of the bill.

There are 33 bones and a bunch of tendons in the feet, tasked with the job of bearing your weight and keeping you mobile. One foot surgeon estimated that we walk about 150,000 miles in our lifetime. Dog owners, speed walkers and Phish fans can probably add at least a few hundred more miles to that.  The bottom line is that your feet take a pounding like no other part of your body and eventually it shows.

Both the AOFAS and American Podiatric Medical Association have come out against cosmetic foot surgery, saying operations on the foot are too serious to be done for aesthetic reasons.

More foot surgeons, however, are acknowledging that often, the Feet Complete the style package. And everyone hates getting things started on the wrong foot.

More men are having the looks of their legs improved than ever. Members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) reported an increase of 226 percent in the last five years of men seeking treatment for spider veins or varicose veins. The problem is most common in legs, but can also affect areas of the face and breasts.  Sclerotherapy, as it is called, was the second most popular cosmetic procedure in 2007, behind liposuction but ahead of eyelid surgery, breast augmentation and hair transplant/replacement. And it is getting cheaper and easier for both genders.  The number of options for treatments, including laser repair, are going up.

Spiffy legs used to be the purview of women, but it seems to be growing among men.  Know anyone who has cosmetic help with their legs, male or female?  If you’re a woman, do you care what your man’s legs look like?