Sclerotherapy - Spider vein treatment

Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to treat varicose veins and "spider veins". Spider veins (telangiectasias) are small purple to red blood vessels often visible on the leg, ankle or foot. Occasionally, spider veins will appear on the face.

Varicose veins may sometimes cause leg discomfort, whereas spider veins are usually pain free and the chemical (sclerosant) that is injected can cause a feeling of burning or cramping for a few minutes in the area where the shot was given. You may need repeated sessions and many injections each session, depending on the extent of the varicose veins and type of sclerosant used. These should not be confused with varicose veins, which are larger, deeper veins that are usually lumpy and sometimes deeper purple in color.

Sclerotherapy involves an injection of a solution (generally sodium chloride) directly into the varicose vein. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together, and the blood to clot. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view. Sclerotherapy is a well-proven procedure has been in use since the 1930s to treat varicose veins.

Spider Vein Treatment Benefits: no downtime-patients can immediately resume work and all normal activities. But the patient is advised to refrain from vigorous activities for the first 24 hours, little if any discomfort, generally, excellent overall improvement in the appearance is achieved, sclerotherapy is a safe, time-proven procedure.

 Prior to the procedure, you will have an initial consultation with a dermatologist or vascular medicine specialist who will decide if you're a good candidate for sclerotherapy. Veins that are potentially usable for future surgical bypass procedures (i.e. use of the saphenous vein, a large vein in the leg used for coronary artery bypass graft surgery) will generally not be considered for sclerotherapy, unless they are already deemed unusable.

Sclerotherapy should not be done if you: are pregnant or nursing. It is not known whether the chemical (sclerosant) causes birth defects or gets into breast milk, have a history of allergy to sclerosant or similar substances, have blood clots or inflammation in the deep leg veins.