What are spider veins?
Spider veins are small, dilated red blood vessels found on the legs near the skin surface. These unwanted superficial blood vessels often occur as an inherited tendency, are more common in women, occur with childbearing, become more numerous with age, can occur after trauma to a leg and can be worse in people who stand on their feet all day. Spider veins are not needed for your circulation and the unsightly appearance of these veins can be easily improved with sclerotherapy. If you have larger varicose veins, these are most often treated with surgery and you may need an evaluation by a vascular surgeon or dermasurgeon specializing in varicose veins.
What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a treatment used for minimizing or eliminating small superficial leg veins or “spider veins”. This treatment consists of the injection of a small amount of a “sclerosing agent” into the veins which causes irritation and inflammation inside the vessel leading to closure of the vessel and its gradual disappearance.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments needed to clear or improve your spider veins differs from person to person depending upon the size and number of veins present. Multiple vessels can be treated in one session. Depending upon the size of the vessel, each vessel may need to be injected more than once. One to six or more treatments may be needed and the average is three to four. Treatments are usually performed at four week intervals to allow for complete healing between treatments.
When will I see improvement after a treatment?
The vessels will gradually disappear over a period of 2 weeks to 3 months after a treatment. Significant improvement in the appearance of leg veins will occur after several treatments. The veins treated with sclerotherapy will not come back, but new blood vessels may appear over time.
What should I expect immediately after a treatment?
You will be asked to wear support stockings following your treatment to hasten the improvement of your spider veins as well as to promote healing. Redness and bruising may occur following a treatment which will usually disappear with time. You may also experience an aching feeling in your legs for the first day or two. You should walk at least one hour a day, but avoid prolonged standing and strenuous activities for several days.
Questions regarding sclerotherapy?
If you're considering a sclerotherapy treatment and have questions regarding the procedure, LipoSculpture & Laser Center of Dallas can help. Contact the LipoSculpture & Laser Center of Dallas by calling (972) 661-5476 for a private consultation to determine if sclerotherapy treatment is right for you based on your individual circumstances.
LipoSculpture & Laser Center offers two convenient Metroplex area locations serving patients living in Dallas, The Colony, Frisco, Plano, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Irving, Coppell, Addison, Allen and Richardson.