Spider Veins

What are Spider Veins?

Small dilated blood vessels on the legs which are unsightly and may cause aching or throbbing.

What causes Spider Veins?

The most common causes are pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement, occupations requiring prolonged standing, pressure on surface veins from abnormal larger deeper blood vessels, weight gain, and family history.

What are the treatments for Spider Veins?

Sclerotherapy, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL®) , and Laser.

How does Sclerotherapy work?

Sclerotherapy Spider Vein procedure is the injection of a solution into the vein with a tiny needle. The solution alters the vein wall. The body absorbs the vein and it disappears. Blood flow is shifted from the abnormal vessel to other healthy veins.

What do I need to do after treatment?

You may resume activities immediately. Most patients get better results if they wear graduated support stockings 24 hours a day for 72 hours after treatment. You should exercise 30-45 minutes a day for 1 week after treatment to maximize results and minimize the very low risk of a blood clot in a treated vein.

When will I see results?

You will see improvement within 10 weeks.

How many treatments will I need?

Because veins often require several injections to disappear, an average patient needs 3-4 treatment sessions at 10 week intervals for 60-90% improvement.

How long does each treatment take?

Treatment is in office and takes 45 minutes.

Does it hurt?

There may be stinging or discomfort at the injection sites at the time of treatment.

How long do the results last?

Most smaller veins do not reoccur but over time new veins may develop in the same area. New veins may be more resistant to treatment.

What will I look like after the procedure?

Most patients have some bruising or darkening at the injection site or along the vein. This is normal and will fade over the next several weeks.

What are the possible side effects of Sclerotherapy?

In less than 1% of patients a small sore develops which may take several weeks to months to heal and may leave a small scar. Very fine red blood vessels may develop at the site of treatment of larger veins. Most disappear spontaneously, some require treatment. At times as the vein disappears a brown pigmentation occurs but usually resolves spontaneously. Very rarely a patient may have an allergic reaction to the medication injected. Sometimes an individual vein develops a superficial clot that may be tender but is not significant medical problem. Deeper phlebitis is a very rare complication.

What are the possible side effects of IPL® or laser treatment?

The same as Sclerotherapy with the addition of a possible burn to the skin.

Doesn't laser treatment give better results without pain for Spider Veins on the leg?

Although laser treatment can be effective it is not painless or more effective than Sclerotherapy. Lasers,in general, are less effective and more painful. In our Texas clinic, Spider Veins on the legs are almost always treated with sclerotherapy, although we have a spider vein Laser for certain patients. Physicians who are experienced in the treatment of Spider Veins of the leg most often use injection Sclerotherapy, as it is usually the most effective with the least number of treatments. IPL® is especially effective on the face.