Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat spider (or thread) veins.
Spider veins are those small red, blue or purple veins that most commonly appear on the legs and face, but can also appear anywhere on the body. Veins are injected using a chemical solution (sclerosing agent), which causes them to collapse and fade from view.
In certain cases sclerotherapy can be used to treat enlarged swollen veins or varicose veins, however, in others surgical treatment may be necessary. If you are pregnant or breast feeding you should postpone your sclerotherapy treatment.
What kind of results can I expect?
Sclerotherapy eliminates or diminishes the appearance of the veins treated. Every vein treated may not disappear completely. The results vary depending on the thickness and the extent of veins. Two or more sessions may be required to achieve optimal results. Sclerotherapy treats only those veins that are currently visible. It does not alter the underlying venous system or prevent new veins from surfacing in the future.
What are the risks?
In the right hands this is a safe procedure and serious complications are extremely rare. These will be discussed as part of your consultation. Occasionally, there is the problem of “telengiectatic matting”, in which fine reddish blood vessels appear around the treatment area, this may be treated with further injections. Discoloration and blotchiness is a more common side effect, this usually fades over a few weeks, but may take up to a year. More serious problems are rare and include blood clots, severe inflammation, allergic reactions to the sclerosing solution and skin injury that could leave a small but permanent scar. |
