Sclerotherapy

If you are looking for an expert in treating spider veins, look no further.    We are actively teaching physicians nationwide on the most safe and effective treatment of spider veins.   Terri Harper, RN, BSN regularly offers instruction in these techniques both onsite and at physician's offices across the country as part of our training programs.

We often recommend sclerotherapy to treat your spider veins.   During this treatment, a sclerosing solution will be injected into the spider veins which closes them so they no longer carry venous blood and eventually disappear.   

Sclerotherapy for spider veins is considered to be a cosmetic procedure.  These treatments are administered in the offices of Spa Medical.

Your Consultation

We suggest you set up a consultation with one of the staff at SpaMedical.  We will have a chance to talk at length about your spider veins and discuss which treatment option is best for you.  We suggest that you bring a list of any questions you may have to the appointment.    We will take as much time as necessary to detail the procedure and make sure you are comfortable with our professional recommendations.  You should plan on being in the office for 1 to 1 1/2 hours during your first appointment.

Your Treatment

Sclerotherapy is an in-office treatment which should take 15-60 minutes to complete.    We will inject a sclerosing solution through micro-needles directly into your spider veins.   Over the upcoming weeks, you will see your spider veins gradually start to disapper. 

While every patient is different, we may suggest a series of 2-4 sclerotherapy treatment sessions (if your case is mild you may only need one or two treatments).  The number of treatment sessions needed to achieve optimal results will vary depending on the size and number of veins you need treated.  We usually administer treatments about 6 to 8 weeks apart.  You may also need to have a touch-up sclerotherapy every 6-12 months to keep your legs looking good.

Post Treatment

After your sclerotherapy, it is normal for your treated areas to appear bruised for a few days.  In fact they may look worse after the first treatment and then begin to fade and look better after the second.  You may resume normal activities immediately after treatment.  Results may be improved by avoiding strenuous physical activity, hot baths, and exposure to sun.  We advise that you wear light compression hose for a short period after treatment to help achieve optimal results.

After the procedure, if you have any pain, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medications for at least 48 hours.  Tylenol may be used if needed.     

Our staff will go over the post treatment guidelines with you before and after your procedure.

Possible Side Effects

Though sclerotherapy is generally a comfortable and easy procedure, there are instances of some minor undesirable effects.  The most common side effects are trapped blood, pigmentation and matting.  A full discussion of other risks will be completed prior to beginning treatment.

"Trapped blood" occurs when a segment of vein remains open between sealed segments, "trapping" blood in the vein.  The patient may feel a tender lump in this area.  Trapped blood usually can be extracted by needle and is easily treated on a follow-up visit.

"Pigmentation" is a light brown discoloration of skin overlying a treated vein.  It may take several weeks to months to resolve.  Be sure to tell the staff if you are currently on or have recently taken iron or if you have a history of problems with pigmentation.

"Matting" is an area of discoloration near a treatment area that blanches with pressure and then returns.  Careful inspection reveals these discolorations to be multiple fine red or purple veins. 

Pigmentation and matting occur less than 20% of the time.  These conditions usually resolve spontaneously over several months, but can rarely last a year or more.  If you have questions or concerns, call the office immediately.

The staff of Vein Specialists of the South, LLC and SpaMedical have extensive experience with sclerotherapy.  Sclerotherapy provides excellent outcomes to patients with unsightly spider veins.  To find out if sclerotherapy is right for you schedule a consultation by calling 478-743-2299