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What is Sclerotherapy?
Unwanted spider veins can be treated with minimal discomfort in 15 to 45 minutes with minimal downtime by sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is injecting the unwanted veins with a sclerosing solution that causes the target vein to immediately shrink, and then dissolve over a period of weeks as the body naturally absorbs the treated vein. Sclerotherapy is a non-invasive procedure that takes only about 10 minutes to perform.
Often referred to as the “gold standard”, sclerosing is preferred over laser for eliminating “large spider veins” (telangiectasia) and smaller varicose leg veins. Unlike a laser, the sclerosing solution additionally closes the “feeder veins” under the skin that are causing the spider veins to form, thereby making a recurrence of the spider veins in the treated area less likely. Multiple injections of dilute sclerosant are injected into the abnormal surface veins of the involved leg. The patient’s leg is then compressed with either stockings or bandages that they wear usually for 72 hours to one week after treatment for the best result. Patients are also encouraged to walk regularly during that time. It is common practice for the patient to require at least two treatment sessions separated by several weeks to significantly improve the appearance of their leg veins.
What Results to Expect with Spider Vein Treatment
Results are normally seen in 2-4 weeks for smaller spider veins and up to 3 months for larger veins. Ways to prevent spider veins include walking and/or daily exercise, avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time and avoiding wearing heels for long periods.
Laser Spider Vein Treatment
Laser is another effective medical spider vein treatment. The high-powered 1064-nm Nd:YAG is the wavelength of choice for the treatment of facial and leg veins—the most common form of vascular lesions.
Treatments last 15-45 minutes with minimum discomfort. After treatment, it is very important to limit sun exposure for 2-3 weeks. Call for pricing.
