Sclerotherapy

It is estimated that at least half of the adult female population is plagued with “spider veins”, those unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple veins which occur on ankles, thighs and calves. Spider veins are connected with the larger system of blood vessels, but are not a necessary part of that system. Consequently, removing them does not have adverse consequences for the circulatory system. Factors which contribute to the development of spider veins include heredity, pregnancy, weight gain, and activities or occupations which require prolonged standing.

Sclerotherapy is one method of treating spider veins. In this procedure, a medication is injected into the veins using a very fine needle. The medication injected is considered a “sclerosant” and it’s function is to irritate the wall of the blood vessel so that it can scar closed, no longer allowing it to carry blood. Eventually the scarred blood vessel is reabsorbed by the body and disappears. A variety of medications can be used as sclerosants. In our office we generally use a very concentrated saline (salt water) solution. We use this solution because there is no risk of allergic reactions and the solution works very well. It can sting a bit, however.

The Sclerotherapy procedure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes and is done in our office. We ask that you bring or wear shorts to the procedure. Usually one injection will treat at least one inch of vein, so the number of injections you will need will depend on the extent of involvement of your legs with spider veins. Most people tolerate the procedure well, with
minimal discomfort. Often one or more additional treatments are needed to completely treat the spider veins, and it usually takes at least one month for the veins to resolve. During the month or so after treatment, the veins may appear bruised and some reddish spots may be present at the injection sites. These fade with time, however.

After your Sclerotherapy treatment we ask that you avoid strenuous activity, such as heavy lifting, or pounding type exercises (such as running or aerobics) and ask that you avoid prolonged sitting. We encourage walking to diminish the likelihood of developing blood clots. We encourage you to wear medical grade support hose for one to two weeks after treatment to help resolution of the treated veins.

Our doctors collectively have been performing Sclerotherapy for over 35 years. We continually update our information and techniques as new
procedures and information become available.

Please contact us for pricing details.