SCLEROTHERAPY
SPIDER VEINS/CAPILLARY REMOVAL – SCLEROTHERAPY is a very effective and minimal discomfort procedure employing micro-injections of a special solution to cause these superficial veins to collapse and fade over 4-6 weeks or sooner.
Sclerotherapy is a very popular medical procedure that is often used in the treatment of spider and varicose veins. The procedure requires that the veins be injected with a chemical solution through the use of a very fine needle. Once the solution reaches inside the veins, it will begin to irritate the vessel’s lining. Once this occurs the blood will begin to clot and the lining will swell and stick together. Over a period of time, the vessel will begin scarring and eventually disappear.
The number of treatments that are needed to get rid of the vein often depend on its size and also how well it responds to the sclerotherapy injections.
This treatment has been used since the 1930’s for the treatment of various vein issues.
Prior to the procedure, you will have an initial consultation with one of our physicians who will advise you on your eligibility for sclerotherapy. You are not eligible if you are pregnant or are bedridden. You can have sclerotherapy if you take birth control pills. If you have had a blood clot in the past, your eligibility will be decided on an individual basis, and will depend on the overall health of the area needing treatment as well as the reason for the clot. 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.
Each vein may require 2-3 treatments, but usually disappears between two weeks and two months following treatment. Recurrence of spider veins is possible, and the treatment does not prevent new spider veins from appearing.
Typically, two or three injections are required for each vein, although some visible improvement may occur after just one injection. It takes from two to eight weeks after the injections for the vessels to disappear.
This depends on the severity of the spider vein disease in your particular case. Average treatment is three to six sessions. If you have vein reflux disease, it should be treated first to help prevent recurrence and progression of the spider veins.
We recommend a minimum of four weeks between treatment sessions.
It is possible for treated areas to develop spider veins again, usually one to five years after treatment. Also, new spider vein formation in other areas is not prevented by injection.
In order to prevent bleeding under the skin, which can cause skin discoloration, and to close the spider veins more effectively, some minor restrictions are necessary. We recommend limits on standing, strenuous leg exercise, sun exposure and hot showers immediately following your treatment session. In addition, compression stockings must be worn for two days or more after sclerotherapy.