Spider veins are small, irregularly shaped blood vessels below your skin's surface. You can find them almost anywhere, including your legs, face, and back. The condition of spider veins is usually harmless, especially when minor and not bothersome.
However, in some cases, spider veins can be more visible or painful. Spider veins on the face, arms, or legs can make you feel self-conscious and make it difficult for you to wear clothes that show off. While not very dangerous, their presence can be very damaging to your self-esteem.
The state of spider veins on your legs or arms can alter how you wear them and the level of coverage you desire to expose them. It can also cause feelings of embarrassment in public places such as a locker room or pool area and make wearing shorts feel uncomfortable.
Treating Spider Veins using Sclerotherapy
Many people treat spider veins with Sclerotherapy. It involves using injections to break up the vein walls and eliminate the blood flow. Spider-vein patients use Sclerotherapy to treat and eradicate circulatory problems.
The technique works similarly to vein surgery but without the downtime associated with invasive vein treatment. It also helps that there are usually significantly fewer side effects and no need for numbing.
Procedural Information
Sclerotherapy treatment for Spider Veins involves injecting a mixture of chemicals into the location of the spider veins. The doctor injects the liquid solution directly into the skin and travels to its target only.
The doctor applies it with a small needle, and the solution causes immediate dissolution of veins that get their supply from the lymphatic system. In some cases, they may require multiple injections as spider veins tend to recur after a short time interval. No pain is associated with Sclerotherapy as the needle for injection is very thin and small.
However, most patients feel slight pressure during and after the procedure. This feeling is temporary and does not last longer than a few minutes. Following the process, you may notice numbness for about a day.
Most patients are back to normal activities the same day, but some may require another visit after a week. The treatment feels adequate within three or four weeks, but there is no definite date when your spider veins will be gone completely.
As one of the most popular non-invasive treatments for spider veins, Sclerotherapy is an effective and fast treatment of under-the-skin lesions resulting from the buildup of extra or abnormal vessels. The procedure is well-known for its long-lasting results and takes about one to three sessions to show the best effect.
Benefits of Sclerotherapy
There are a lot of benefits for people who choose to turn to sclerotherapy for spider veins. Some of these include:
- This treatment is less invasive than surgery.
- The results are immediate and last for a few weeks after the procedure.
- The technique uses only local numbing.
- There are no complications or unwanted effects if you follow the instructions correctly.
- You can still enjoy your favorite leisure activities after sclerotherapy treatment.
- The treatment is relatively inexpensive.
With Sclerotherapy, you no longer have to cover your spider veins with clothes. It is because they are gone after the procedure. The only condition is to wait for a couple of weeks (no more than six weeks) before wearing new clothing.
Potential Risk of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy has many benefits for patients, like pain relief and a decrease in high blood pressure. However, the procedure has some potential risks, including injection site disfigurement, excessive bleeding, and poor image quality.
The skin's reaction to sclerotic injection can result in numerous complications, including redness, swelling, tenderness, and poor healing.
Other complications that may occur include hematomas, allergic reactions, infection, ulcerations, and severe pain when moving. Patients must take medications on their own to avoid these side effects. Darkening of the skin can indicate poor healing.
Sclerotherapy is a safe treatment with a high success rate, and one can use it as an alternative to surgery. It makes spider veins less visible, but it may take several sessions to treat them fully.