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A majority of the population experiences spider veins at some point in their lifetime. While some people may only have a few minor spider-like veins on their skin’s surface, others experience a more widespread condition that can cause painful symptoms and cosmetic concerns.
Most common in women over 50 and those with a family history of the condition, spider veins can affect anyone at any age.
Most patients do not have any severe issues associated with their spider veins, but many find them unsightly, causing them to lower their self-esteem and confidence.
The good news is that effective, minimally invasive sclerotherapy treatment can help.
This outpatient procedure provides minimal downtime with lasting results.
Let’s explore sclerotherapy in more detail, including how the procedure works and how long the spider vein treatment lasts.
What Is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is an outpatient venous procedure that helps eliminate spider veins on the thighs and lower legs.
This procedure is often considered the gold standard in treating small varicose veins.
It is used to mitigate symptoms and alleviate cosmetic concerns.
Sclerotherapy works by inserting an irritant solution into the damaged veins through small injections. Once the solution enters the veins, it forces blood to reroute to healthier veins while producing an inflammatory response and collapsing damaged veins back into the skin’s tissues.
After treatment, spider veins fade within a few weeks. Full results may take months or longer in patients with more prominent varicose veins.
Multiple sclerotherapy procedures may be needed for those with extensive varicose veins to achieve optimal results.
Understanding the Sclerotherapy Procedure
At your procedure, the affected area will be cleaned with alcohol.
Next, your sclerotherapist will use a fine needle to insert a series of small injections filled into the affected veins.
The liquid solution in the injection works by irritating the vein’s lining, causing it to swell and block blood flow through the vein.
Some solutions may contain a local anesthetic. In other cases, a lidocaine cream may be occasionally be applied to the area before injection begins.
Patients may experience minor stinging or cramping when the needle is inserted. It is vital to let your doctor know if you’re experiencing a high level of pain during injections, as it may indicate that the solution accidentally leaked into surrounding tissues.
After each injection, compression will be applied to the injection site, and a massage of the area will be performed to keep blood out of the treated vein while helping to disperse the solution.
The number of injections you receive depends on the number and size of the veins being treated.
Before beginning a new treatment regimen, speak with a vein specialist and your primary care provider to ensure you are a good candidate for sclerotherapy treatment.
How Long Does Spider Vein Treatment Last?
The length of spider vein treatment is typically 30 minutes.
You’ll be encouraged and allowed to get up and walk around after treatment. Regular and consistent leg movement is important in blood clot prevention.
After treatment, you’ll need to wear compression stockings for several days as directed by the therapist.
Most patients can return to normal activities on the same day, but you should avoid strenuous exercise as directed by the therapist. The instructions from the sclerotherapist will vary depending on the specifics of your treatment. You’ll want to avoid sun exposure for up to 2 weeks as it could lead to uneven or darkened skin tone.
For most, results will appear in 3 to 6 weeks for small spider veins. For some reticular veins may take up to six months for full results to show.
Results on the treated veins are permanent. Opting in to sclerotherapy does not mean that you will not get any new spider veins in the future, but if treated correctly, your current spider veins should not return.
Sclerotherapy Treatment in Virginia
Virginia Vein Care offers the most effective spider vein treatment options to take care of your varicose veins, including sclerotherapy. This minimally invasive procedure does not require extensive surgeries or downtime while providing lasting results.
If you’re hoping to eliminate the symptoms and appearance of spider veins, please visit a Virginia Vein Care location near you.