Prior to treatment, we will review your complete medical history to determine how long you have had a problem with your veins and the severity of the problem. We need to know if the problem is exacerbated by physical activity and if there has been any prior surgery or treatment on your veins. If the area to be treated can be saved, Sclerotherapy will be recommended.
The larger veins are usually treated first. Using a tiny syringe fitted with a micro-needle, your physician will inject a small amount of sclerosing agent into the vein. Sclerosing solution displaces the blood within the vein. It then causes irritation to the lining of the vein, making it swell shut. The needle is withdrawn and pressure to the area is applied immediately. While each vein may require several injections, most disappear in two weeks to two months.
Most Sclerotherapy patients report little if any discomfort. A few may experience a mild burning sensation when we inject the solution, but it stops in a few seconds.
Additional Sclerotherapy Information
Sclerotherapy is a fairly simple cosmetic procedure able to minimize or eliminate spider veins. The procedure may also be effective in treating symptoms associated with spider veins such as aching, burning, swelling and night cramps, and it may even be used for some patients to treat varicose veins. Most patients of sclerotherapy are women between the ages of thirty to sixty. However, sclerotherapy can be performed at earlier ages and, though less common, on men as well. Sclerotherapy should be postponed for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
One injection is administered to approximately every inch of spider vein, resulting in anywhere from five to forty injections per session. Two or more sessions are often required to achieve the best results.
Patients may experience cramping in the legs during the first two days after treatment. A tight-fitting support hose may be worn for the first three or more days. The site may appear bruised and red, and the veins typically appear worse before improving. Patients can return to their normal activities right away, though prolonged sitting and standing, squatting, heavy weight lifting and jogging should be avoided until the treatment program is completed.