While spider veins are often considered a cosmetic condition, patients consistently report an improvement in their overall well-being after receiving treatment. According to the Cleveland Clinic, spider veins affect more than 50 percent of women and people assigned female at birth, becoming even more common after age 80. With this in mind, understanding the way various spider vein therapy options work can help you determine which treatment may be the best fit.
Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) clinics offer state-of-the-art outpatient treatments for spider veins and other forms of chronic venous insufficiency, and our physicians are dedicated to providing vascular care with compassion and comfort. Keep reading as we delve into the two primary treatment options for spider veins.
Sclerotherapy is offered for patients who want to improve the condition of spider veins and other venous conditions such as varicose veins. The procedure entails the injection of a solution, called a sclerosant, into the affected veins. The sclerosant irritates and swells the veins, which stops blood from flowing as the vessel shrinks. According to MedicalNewsToday, sclerotherapy is also effective in treating blood vessels surrounding the rectum, called hemorrhoids, a buildup of fluid around a testicle, called hydroceles, and abnormal or malformed vessels in the lymphatic system.
Before your appointment, your vein care specialist will instruct you to avoid certain medications. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some antibiotics can cause skin reactions if taken seven to 10 days before or after sclerotherapy treatment. Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications should be avoided for 48 hours before and after the procedure to prevent bleeding complications.
Prednisone may make the chemical agent used in the procedure less effective. Your vein care physician may encourage you to ask your prescriber to see if you can safely stop taking this corticosteroid for 48 hours before your treatment.
Aside from staying away from some select medications, the only other steps you’ll need to take to prepare for your sclerotherapy appointment are to pack a pair of shorts and avoid applying lotion to your legs before or after the procedure. Your CVR physician will inform you of any additional preparation steps that may vary based on your specific medical history.
Your vein care expert will perform your sclerotherapy procedure in their office — possibly with the help of an ultrasound to locate the correct vein. Patients are then asked to lie on their stomach or back depending on this location. Similarly, the specific type of chemical and its concentration depend on the size of the vein being treated. Your physician may also perform a test injection to check for any adverse reactions before conducting the vein procedure.
Before the injection, your vein care physician will clean the treatment area and stretch the skin surrounding the injection site. Your physician’s assistant may use their hands to hold your skin firm while the injection is prepared.
During a sclerotherapy injection, you may feel a mild pinch from the needle breaking your skin. The injection may be followed by a slight burning or discomfort as the chemical enters the targeted vein. The number of veins that can be treated during a single sclerotherapy session depends on their location and size, as well as your medical history.
After undergoing a sclerotherapy session, your vein care specialist may ask you to continue lying down for about 15 minutes to confirm that you don’t react badly to the injection. You’ll then be able to drive yourself home and return to normal activities. Keep in mind that your physician may encourage you to wear medical-grade compression stockings for three to seven days after the procedure for added support.
Other parts of your post-procedure care routine include washing the injection site with mild soap and lukewarm water and avoiding heat exposure. While rare, you’ll want to continue to visually monitor the area for complications such as inflammation that occurs within five inches of your groin, sudden leg swelling, red streaking — particularly near the groin area — and the formation of small ulcers at the site of the injection. If you observe any of these side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
How effective is sclerotherapy when it comes to achieving long-term results? The numbers don’t lie. Sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins and abnormal blood vessel development is successful in between 75 and 90 percent of cases, according to the National Library of Medicine. If treatment is successful, spider veins and varicose veins won’t form again. Remember, though, that chronic venous insufficiency is a progressive disorder, which means that spider and varicose veins may continue to form in untreated areas near veins that have already been injected. Talk to your expert CVR physician about ways to manage your expectations and optimize your results with thoughtful self-care.
According to Healthline, sclerotherapy is considered the most popular treatment for spider veins — but laser therapy is an effective way to remove them altogether. Laser treatment for spider veins is performed using several different methods, and your vein care expert may recommend one of them — or a combination of laser and sclerotherapy — if your diagnosis includes other forms of chronic venous insufficiency.
Fortunately, laser therapy and sclerotherapy have many of the same benefits: ease of preparation, brief recovery period, and overall effectiveness. Sclerotherapy, however, is often considered the preferred treatment method due to its speed, lower cost, and lack of discomfort involved.
We understand that it can be overwhelming to discuss your specific symptoms, concerns, and health history as they relate to your spider vein treatment options. That’s why the team members at CVR will take the time to provide clarity and explain each option in detail, ultimately giving you an expert recommendation based on your needs and guiding you through the pre-and post-procedure care process. Call 240-965-3915 to speak to a Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.
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