Sclerotherapy is a safe and effective method for eliminating problematic superficial veins. It is also the most common treatment for improving the appearance of spider veins and relieving the pain they can cause.
Whether you’re embarrassed by bulging veins or losing sleep from the discomfort, minimally invasive treatments like sclerotherapy are available to alleviate your symptoms.
What Are the Differences Between Varicose Veins & Spider Veins?
Varicose and spider veins belong to the same category, but their development and appearance differ. It is crucial to understand the disparity between the two before seeking treatment.
Varicose veins are bulging, bluish, or purple blood vessels and are most common in the legs. The problems stem from malfunctioning valves in blood vessels, not allowing the blood to properly move forward.
In some cases, spider veins result from the same underlying conditions that lead to significant and more prominent varicose veins. Fortunately, when sclerotherapy is used for spider veins, it will eliminate the potentially painful symptoms.
Spider veins are usually smaller and visible on the surface of the skin. Typically red, blue, or purple, they resemble a spider’s web. They can become quite large, leading to cosmetic concerns for people. Causes of spider veins include:
- Age and heredity
- Sun damage
- Hormone fluctuations
- Trauma to the skin
- Various medications
- Certain medical conditions
In some cases, spider veins result from the same underlying conditions that lead to significant and more prominent varicose veins. Fortunately, when sclerotherapy is used for spider veins, it will eliminate the potentially painful symptoms.
What Is Sclerotherapy?
There are two types of sclerotherapy: ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy and surface sclerotherapy.
This procedure may be appropriate for people with spider veins, but it’s not for everyone. Your vascular specialist will determine if you qualify for sclerotherapy.
- Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy allows doctors to identify problematic veins that aren’t visible on the skin’s surface by monitoring veins on an ultrasound screen. With this advanced technology, Dr. Jimenez guides an extremely fine and nearly painless needle into the diseased vein, injecting a small amount of a sclerosing solution into the affected area, irritating the vein’s inner lining, which causes the veins to gently dry up and become absorbed by the body’s natural healing response, thus closing the vein.
- Surface sclerotherapy requires no anesthesia and takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes, but the exact length of time varies depending on the size of the area and the number of veins treated. A small amount of solution is injected into the diseased vein through a fine needle, generating a mild inflammatory reaction that will cause the vein walls to stick together, which causes the vein to collapse, beginning the reabsorption of the vein, and over time, the collapsed vessel permanently seals closed.
Who Qualifies for Sclerotherapy Treatment?
This procedure may be appropriate for people with spider veins, but it’s not for everyone. Your vascular specialist will determine if you qualify for sclerotherapy. You’re not eligible for this procedure under these circumstances:
- If you have an active deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or superficial vein thrombosis (blood clot), which can increase your risk of recurrent postoperative DVT.
- If you’re pregnant, you’ll have to wait at least three months post-delivery before you can have this procedure.
- If you breastfeed, sclerotherapy raises concerns about the possibility of passing on the sclerosing agent (injected into the veins) from the mother to the child.
- If you are bedridden, you should avoid sclerotherapy, or if you’re unable to be physically active. One of the most important aftercare activities is regular movement because it speeds up the healing process and stops the disease from returning.
If you’ve had a blood clot in the past, you may qualify for this procedure, depending on what caused the clot and how serious it was. Discuss with your provider how successful this procedure will be for you.
How Do I Prepare for Sclerotherapy?
Before your procedure, your doctor will conduct a physical examination, assessing your veins and checking for blood vessel disease. The provider will ask questions about your medical history, such as:
- Medical conditions or illnesses recently diagnosed, such as a heart condition or a clotting disorder
- Allergies
- Medicines or supplements you take, especially aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox DS, etc.), blood thinners, iron supplements, or herbal supplements
Other preparations include:
- Avoid taking certain medications, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, at least 48 to 72 hours before treatment
- Do not apply any lotion, perfume, powder, or cologne to the legs before the procedure
- Drink plenty of water
- Bring your compression socks or stockings to wear following your procedure
- Dress comfortably for your treatment
What to Expect After the Procedure
Dr. Jimenez will schedule a follow-up appointment about a month after treatment to evaluate your progress. Because this procedure is simple and does not involve anesthesia, patients can safely drive themselves home afterward. For the first 48 hours after sclerotherapy, you should:
- Refrain from taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications
- Don’t take hot baths or showers. We recommend cleansing the treated area with soap and lukewarm water
- Light exercise and walking are encouraged to prevent blood clot formation
- Compression stockings are recommended to keep constant light pressure on the treated area
Smaller veins typically disappear in three to six weeks, while larger veins take three to four months. Note: veins that disappear within this time usually do not return. After six weeks, you can repeat sclerotherapy if new spider veins appear.
What Are the Side Effects?
This procedure is simple and safe. However, as with any treatment, it poses some risks and may cause side effects, including:
- Stinging or pain at the sites of injection
- Swelling of the ankles or feet
- Muscle cramps
- Bruising
- Raised red areas (hives)
- Small skin sores
- Darkened skin
- Several tiny red blood vessels
Usually, these side effects go away within days to weeks. Some may take months or longer to go away completely.
What Are the Benefits?
You can expect to enjoy the results of sclerotherapy treatment for a very long time. Because this is the most common treatment for eradicating unsightly veins, there are multiple benefits, such as:
- Sclerotherapy is highly effective, with as many as 50-80% of injected veins disappearing in a single treatment, you’ll leave with restored confidence
- This treatment is safe and has been used since the 1930s to treat venous disease and is approved by the FDA
- Because sclerotherapy isn’t surgery, you’ll have an easy recovery and return home shortly after treatment
- Side effects are minimal
At Indiana Vein & Laser Center, we understand the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for vein disease. Though symptoms may be similar, no two patients are the same, and neither are their experiences with pain and discomfort. That’s why our expert, compassionate care is unsurpassed and tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today for more information!
DISCLAIMER
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.
