Visual Sclerotherapy – Spider Vein Treatment

Have you noticed small, thin veins appearing on your legs? They might be red, purple, or blue. If so, you may have telangiectasia –– also called spider veins due to their weblike appearance. Spider veins are actually dilated capillaries, or tiny blood vessels, that are located close to the skin’s surface.

Spider veins are common in women and men of nearly any age, affecting up to 60 percent of adults. Although usually painless, you may wish to receive treatment due to cosmetic reasons. Even if your spider veins are not bothersome or particularly unsightly, you should be aware that they are nonetheless malfunctioning. In fact, spider veins are a sign of underlying vein disease. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring them to the attention of a vein treatment specialist for proper evaluation.

The good news is that you don’t need to get vein surgery to treat your vein issues. At USA Fibroid Centers, we offer a minimally invasive spider vein treatment called Visual Sclerotherapy. This non-surgical, outpatient procedure treats both the medical and cosmetic aspects of spider veins.

Depending on your individual situation, visual sclerotherapy treatment may be used in conjunction with other types of vein treatments. This specialized process can help reduce your risk of developing progressive vein disease. If left untreated, vein disease can lead to serious health consequences like the formation of blood clots and venous ulcers.

Here’s what you should know about spider veins, vein disease, and visual sclerotherapy treatment.

What is Visual Sclerotherapy?

One of a number of treatment methods for spider and varicose veins, visual sclerotherapy involves injecting the veins with a solution called a sclerosant, which closes up the veins and allows them to be reabsorbed by the body. After the spider vein injections, you’ll notice your veins fade away as the blood redirects to healthier veins.

Unlike Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy — which uses imaging equipment to locate varicose veins that are deeper within the leg — visual sclerotherapy is used to treat spider veins that are close to the surface of the skin. A visual sclerotherapy procedure for spider veins does not require image guidance. Instead, this convenient technique works to treat veins that can be seen without special equipment.

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Benefits of Visual Sclerotherapy

Treating spider veins with injections via visual sclerotherapy has numerous benefits, which include:

Speed: The treatment itself lasts only 15-30 minutes, making it easy to fit into your schedule. You will be able to return to most of your normal, daily activities immediately following a visual sclerotherapy procedure. Although you are welcome to bring along a companion, most of our patients can easily drive themselves home. Sedation is not necessary.

Comfort: Unlike surgical treatment, spider vein injections are an effective treatment option that cause no stitches or scarring. Due to its minimally invasive nature, you will leave our office with just a small bandage over the injection site.

Safety: Because visual sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins is performed without surgery, it is a low-risk, FDA-approved option. As with any medical procedure, there is always a risk of side effects. If any occur following treatment, they are nearly always minor.

Success: Visual sclerotherapy is a highly effective treatment option. This method boasts a success rate of more than 80% to 90% for treating spider veins.

Risks and Side Effects of Visual Sclerotherapy

Risks

As a spider vein treatment, visual sclerotherapy generally has few risks and is unlikely to cause any serious complications. However, it is not an appropriate treatment for everyone. Pregnant women or women that are breastfeeding should wait until after delivery or after breastfeeding to undergo visual sclerotherapy.

Visual sclerotherapy treatment can cause some minor, temporary side effects including:

Slight bruising

Red, raised areas or small sores in the treated area

Dark spots or lines in your skin

Tiny red blood vessels

These issues usually go away on their own within a few days or weeks. We recommend contacting your doctor if any irritation occurs for longer than 2 weeks following your procedure.

How Can You Prepare for Treatment?

Are you wondering what to expect when you have visual sclerotherapy? As with any kind of medical treatment, your physician will first provide a complete physical examination and ask about your medical history. During the physical, your doctor will examine and evaluate the veins to be treated and check for signs of vein disease and other conditions.

When taking your medical history, your doctor will ask about your current health such as:

Medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), including any herbal supplements

Existing medical conditions (such as heart disease or diabetes) or recent illnesses, as well as any recent surgical procedures

Allergies

Whether you’ve previously had treatment for spider or varicose veins and, if so, what the results of the treatment were

Your doctor may ask you to avoid over-the-counter pain relievers, blood thinners, and other medications before treatment to help reduce the risk of excessive bleeding.

You shouldn’t shave or use lotion the day of your treatment. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment. The treatment itself will take between 15 and 30 minutes. Depending on the number of veins affected, as well as their location and size, multiple treatment sessions may be necessary to achieve desired results. Your vein treatment specialist can inform you of the likelihood of this occurring based on your individual situation.

What Can You Expect After Visual Sclerotherapy Treatment?

After getting spider vein injections, your physician will walk you through the healing process for your treatment. In general, you should:

Avoid showering for the first 24 hours

Avoid hot baths or spas for a few days

Refrain from strenuous exercise until your doctor gives you the go-ahead

Wear compression stockings for a few weeks, if recommended

If your specialist recommends the use of compression stockings, be sure to ask about safe, beneficial ways to wear them.

How Soon Will You See Results?

You should see results from your visual sclerotherapy treatment within four to six weeks. In some cases, you may need multiple treatments for the best results. Typically, if your veins respond to treatment, they will not come back. However, additional spider veins can develop in the future. Unfortunately, there is no treatment currently available that can 100 percent guarantee the permanent elimination of varicose or spider veins.

Why Choose Visual Sclerotherapy Vein Treatment From USA Vein Clinics?

At USA Vein Clinics, we are a nationwide network of vein treatment facilities. We offer 90 convenient locations that are dedicated to helping people find lasting relief from painful vein symptoms. Our vein specialists are available to guide you toward a non-surgical treatment option. We can help determine which technique will best treat your specific situation and meet your needs.

Along with visual sclerotherapy for spider veins, our experts also offer a variety of nonsurgical treatments for varicose veins. If you have any twisted, swollen, or painful veins, we want you to know that relief is available. Our state-of-the-art techniques include Endovenous Laser Treatment, ClariVein, Varithena Vein Treatment, and Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy.

We believe that vein treatment should be safe, convenient, and accessible to all. Vein treatment is usually covered by most major health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. To review the details of your individual coverage, just give us a call at 888.768.3467.

To learn more about visual sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins, please contact us online to schedule an initial consultation. If you prefer a virtual doctor appointment, we are now offering telemedicine options.