Spider veins are a problem for nearly one in three women and one in five men. Not only are they often considered unsightly, they can cause discomfort and occur as a result of underlying conditions related to circulation. Spider veins occur when veins near the surface of the skin stretch out to the point where they contain an excess of blood, making them more visible.

Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to eradicate spider veins from the surface of the skin. This treatment involves injecting damaged surface veins on the legs with a solution which hardens the veins, causing them to dissolve. This procedure is most often used to treat surface veins, but it can also treat deeper ones if it is carried out by a trained technician using an ultrasound.

moreThese treatments destroy spider veins, but do not prevent your body from forming new ones. Thankfully, sclerotherapy is a simple and relatively quick procedure to perform, so most patients do not mind returning for additional treatment if spider veins reoccur.

Cosmetic Sclerotherapy

Spider veins are most often thought of as a cosmetic concern. Cosmetic Sclerotherapy is the term used to describe sclerotherapy performed for the sole purpose of eradicating the appearance of spider veins on the surface of the skin. Unfortunately, there are many doctors who provide cosmetic sclerotherapy in addition to a number of other services without having the expertise to provide a full analysis of the root cause.

Some patients who see these doctors receive sclerotherapy a number of times only to find out years later that their spider vein reoccurrence is the result of an underlying vein problem that was not properly diagnosed. It is important to make sure that you receive a full examination by a board certified venous and lymphatic doctor to determine the cause of your spider veins before receiving treatment.

Therapeutic Sclerotherapy

Another reason for someone to undergo sclerotherapy is to supplement treatment for more severe underlying vein diseases. Patients receiving varicose vein treatment will generally have scheduled follow-ups for at least the first year after treatment, but can extend to two years depending on the progression or severity of the disease.

These follow-up treatments may involve minor sclerotherapy sessions to remove branch spider veins. When the sclerotherapy treatments accompany procedures treating more severe underlying vein disease, they are considered therapeutic sclerotherapy and performed as a medical necessity.

Please Call 859-554-0519 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sara a Diplomat of The American Board Of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.