Spider Veins
What are they?
Spider veins are the very superficial veins in the skin. These are treated on a cosmetic basis with sclerotherapy.
What are the treatment options?
Many different lasers have been used on the legs with the final results being unsatisfactory. Patients and physicians have come to realize the inferior results of lasers, and the enthusiasm for leg vein laser treatments has markedly decreased. Another treatment option is sclerotherapy, which is an injection of a sclerosing solution into the spider vein.
What gives the best results?
I feel sclerotherapy gives excellent results if the physician and patient are PATIENT with the treatment and results. Sclerotherapy involves injecting the varicosities in the office and then applying a compression bandage. Good sclerotherapy is an art which is only mastered by a doctor who has many years of experience.
In the average patient, the final cosmetic result is seen in three to four months, some are quicker and some take longer.
How and where is the procedure handled?
This procedure is completed in the office. I first examine the patient closely, looking for reticular veins (veins that feed into the spiders). The treatments progress from the larger veins to the smaller ones. A very small injection of a sclerosing solution is administered which closes the vein.
Will this hurt?
The treatments are basically painless during the procedure and a small compression wrap is placed over the injection site. After the procedure, the discomfort from injections is minimal with no need for any narcotic pain medications.
How long till I get back to my normal routine?
The patient is able to resume their normal activities immediately.
