Dr. Kenneth Harper recommends Sclerotherapy as the best option for the treatment of spider veins. Sclerotherapy is the worldwide gold standard for the treatment of spider veins. Significant progress has been made in sclerotherapy since the days of saline injections. There have been advances in solutions and injection technology lowering the risks of injections, diminishing the discomfort of treatment, and improving the results.
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for spider veins. Micro needles (30 gauge or smaller) are used to inject the solution into the spider veins. The sclerosing solution closes the spider veins so they no longer carry venous blood and disappear or fade over time. A series of injections should result in a 70-80% fading of the visible spider veins. New FDA approved alternatives to saline are now used for Sclerotherapy, resulting in a more effective, safe, and comfortable treatment.
Sclerotherapy for spider veins is considered to be a cosmetic procedure. These treatments are administered in the Spa Medical division of Vein Specialists of the South.
Your Sclerotherapy Consultation
The best way to know if you’re a candidate for Sclerotherapy for your spider veins is to schedule a consultation with the staff at Spa Medical. Your troubling spider veins will be evaluated to determine which treatment option is best for you. During the appointment, we will answer any questions you have and make sure you are comfortable with the recommendations. You should plan on being in the office for 60 minutes for the initial consultation.
Your Sclerotherapy Treatment
During the office treatment, a sclerosing solution is injected through micro-needles into the spider veins. The treated vein segment gradually disappears over several weeks. No local anesthesia or sedation is necessary. Please allow 15 – 60 minutes to complete your treatment.
To obtain the best results, we may suggest a series of 2 – 4 Sclerotherapy treatment sessions (mild cases may only need 1-2). The number of treatment sessions necessary to reach your goals may vary depending on the number and size of the veins treated. Treatments are usually given 6 weeks apart. Touch-up Sclerotherapy sessions may be needed every 6 – 12 months to keep your legs looking and feeling great.
What To Expect After Your Sclerotherapy 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 you should 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.
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 the 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 and Spa Medical have extensive experience with Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy provides excellent outcomes to patients with unsightly spider veins.
Not only have thousands of patients chosen VSS and Spa Medical for their vein care, we are actively involved in the education of physicians nationwide on the safest and most 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.
