Spider Vein Treatment with Sclerotherapy

Improve or eliminate unsightly and painful spider veins with Sclerotherapy.

Unwanted and unattractive blood vessels called spider veins appear mostly on the legs, occasionally on the face, or elsewhere. Spider veins can be short, unconnected lines, each about the size of a large hair, they may be connected in a scraggly, 'sunburst' pattern, or they may even look like a spider-web or a tree with branches. Sometimes they occur on a small area and aren't very noticeable, or they can cover a large area of skin and be quite unattractive.

Varicose veins are larger, unwanted blood vessels that may be raised above the skin surface, and may occur along with spider veins. Some people with these unwanted blood vessels suffer from occasional pain, ranging from a dull throbbing pain to a burning sensation.

Spider veins may carry blood, but are not necessary.

Though unwanted blood vessels, such as spider veins and varicose veins carry blood, the great majority of them, especially spider veins, are not necessary. Since these veins are not needed for circulation, the question in treating them is how to eliminate them, not "repair" them.

Sclerotherapy causes existing spider veins to fade from view.

Today, spider veins are often treated with sclerotherapy. In this rather simple procedure, veins are injected with a sclerosing solution (drugs instilled into parts of the body to induce scarring), which causes them to collapse and fade from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps.

Who should consider sclerotherapy treatment?

Women of any age may be good candidates for sclerotherapy, but most fall in the 30-to-60 category. Spider veins in men aren't nearly as common as they are in women. Men who do have spider veins often don't consider them to be a cosmetic problem because the veins are usually concealed by hair growth on the leg. However, sclerotherapy is just as effective for men.

Preparing For Your Sclerotherapy Treatment

Prior to Sclerotherapy treatments, you should avoid certain medications. Talk to your doctor about all medicines you are taking before the procedure. It may be recommended that you avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory medications for 48-72 hours before sclerotherapy. No lotion should be applied to the legs before the procedure (tape will not stick) and it is best to wear shorts.

What Should You Expect During Sclerotherapy

In most cases, an FDA-approved solution called Sotradecol® is injected through a very fine needle directly into the vein. You may experience mild discomfort and cramping for one to two minutes, especially when larger veins are injected The number of veins injected in one session varies, and depends on the size and location of the veins, as well as your general health.

Keep in mind that your treated veins will look worse before they begin to look better. When the compression dressings are removed, you will notice bruising and reddish areas at the injection sites. The bruises will diminish within one month. In many cases, there may be some residual brownish pigmentation which may take up to a year to completely fade.

Spider vein breakdown continues for days after Sclerotherapy.

While the actual Sclerotherapy treatment is short, the days that follow it are essential to successful spider vein elimination. The breaking down of the unwanted veins will continue after the treatment is over. Elevate your legs as much as possible and wear the compression hose continuously for five days. You will be able to do light exercise the day following your treatment, but should not resume any rigorous workouts for about a week.

Safely enhance your appearance by removing spider veins with Sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy can enhance your appearance and your self confidence, but it's unrealistic to believe that every affected vein will disappear completely as a result of treatment. After each sclerotherapy session, the veins will appear lighter. Two or more sessions are usually required to achieve optimal results. Keep in mind that the Sclerotherapy treats only those veins that are currently visible; it does nothing to permanently alter the venous system or prevent new veins from surfacing in the future.

For more information about Sclerotherapy...

Of course, we'll be glad to answer your Sclerotherapy questions, so don't hesitate to call DermaVogue at (843) 357-2444 for our Garden City location or (843) 272-4071 for our North Myrtle Beach location or (843) 236-0000 for our Carolina Forest location. You can also request a Free Sclerotherapy Consultation online.