Sclerotherapy

About Sclerotherapy

Spider veins-known in the medical world as telangiectasias- are small, thin veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. Although these super-fine veins are connected with the larger venous system, they are not an essential part of it. Spider veins usually take on one of three basic patterns. They may appear in a true spider shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point; they may resemble tiny branch-like shapes; or they may appear as thin separate lines. A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, and the use of certain medications. Spider veins are more common in women than men. Men and women of any age maybe good candidates for Sclerotherapy, but most fall in the 30-to-60 year old category. Spider veins may become noticeable very early on-in the teen years. For others, the veins may not become obvious until they reach their 40s. Sclerotherapy is the method for eliminating superficial telangiectasias (spider veins) by the injection of a sclerosing agent into the veins. The majority of most patients will have a significant clearing of the veins. However, there can be no guarantee that it will be effective in every case.

It is very important to realize that Sclerotherapy/Laser treatments do not prevent thedevelopment of new spider veins and varicosities later in life. Many people requiretreatments from time to time to keep their legs clear. The total number of treatmentsdepends upon the amount and the severity of the veins (average is 3-5 but can takemore than 10 in severe cases). In each session multiple areas can be treated. Each veinmay need to be injected several times, in order to clear or improve the condition.Improvement is usually seen in a period of months.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be advised to postpone Sclerotherapy treatment. In most cases, spider veins that surface during pregnancy will disappear on their own within three months after the baby is born. Also, because it's not known how sclerosing solutions may affect breast milk, nursing mothers are advised to wait until after they have stopped breastfeeding.

Compression Stockings are used with the Sclerotherapy procedure in order to produce better results. These can also be worn to help prevent or slow the progression of vein conditions later in life. Sclerotherapy treatments are usually considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance companies.