sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the treatment used to diminish unsightly spider veins that often develop on the legs.  Spider veins are small, dilated blood vessels that have a red or blue color.  The cause is not known, but there seems to be a familial predisposition.  Support stockings will help to prevent them from developing.  Maintaining normal weight, exercise, a healthy diet, and wearing low heeled shoes will help in the prevention of spider veins. Sclerotherapy is a procedure during which hypertonic saline solution is injected into the spider vein.  This causes the vessel to constrict and close.  Over a period of weeks, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades, eventually becoming barely noticeable or invisible.  A single blood vessel usually needs to be injected more than once. Two to four treatments at 4 week intervals will typically achieve optimum results.  For more severe cases, 6 treatments may be needed.  In any one treatment session a number of vessels will be injected.  Over time, new spider veins often develop and touch up sessions are typically needed every 1 to 2 years. After treatment, pressure dressings will be applied to the injected areas.  These should be left on for a minimum of 24 hours.  If the dressing is removed prior to 24 hours, then compression stockings must be worn.  Exercise should be avoided for 72 hours after treatment.