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Sclerotherapy

Do spider veins dictate your clothing choices? Do you have veins that makeup doesn't really cover?

Sclerotherapy can dissolve these superficial blood vessels and restore skin you'll be happy to show in just a few weeks.

Conditions and Causes

SUPERFICIAL BLOOD VESSELS Spider veins are red, blue, or purple blood vessels near the surface of the skin that form a linear or starburst pattern. Blood backflow, tight elastic, certain injuries, and sun damage on fair skin are all causes of spider veins. Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause as well as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy may also be contributing factors.

The Treatment

Using a very fine needle, we inject the veins with concentrated salt water or a chemical solution. You may feel mild burning or cramping with each injection. The solution is an irritant, causing the vein to swell and the blood to clot. This effectively seals the vein off. It soon turns into scar tissue, which is absorbed by your body. In a matter of weeks the tissue is barely visible or impossible to detect.

The Schedule

It may take up to three sessions to remove a single network of blood vessels completely. We can treat multiple sites in each sclerotherapy session.

You will leave our office wearing bandages, so on the day of your appointment, wear a long skirt or loose-fitting pants. Please do not use a moisturizer on the treatment areas so that the cotton and tape bandages will adhere properly to your skin.

Please discontinue aspirin and aspirin-containing products at least one week before your sclerotherapy appointment.

Precautions

You should not have sclerotherapy if you are pregnant, take anticoagulant medications, or have a history of pulmonary embolism, thrombophlebitis, or clotting disorders.

Side effects are usually mild and short term. They may include:

Bruising

Pigmentation Brownish discoloration may occur at the injection sites as a result of a ruptured vessel or leaking blood. This condition usually clears in less than six months, although in 2 percent of patients it extends beyond two years.

Swelling of the feet Most commonly seen in patients who have a history of this problem.

Clots within the vessels Typically occurring in larger vessels and appearing as a linear bluish-black clot, these are easy to eliminate with incision and draining.

Superficial thrombophlebitis Rarely occurs when only small vessels are treated.

New vessel formation A new network of blood vessels may appear adjacent to the treatment site. This occurs most often on the thighs. These new vessels are much smaller than the original vessels and usually resolve on their own.

Necrosis and ulceration Although uncommon, these conditions can occur even when perfect sclerotherapy technique is used. The cause is not fully understood. Healing may take a prolonged time, and the conditions will result in scar formation.

Prevention

Spider veins are largely genetic; there is little you can do to prevent them. You can reduce the likelihood of spider veins forming on your face, however, by using proper sun protection.