Sclerotherapy
The treatment of choice for most spider veins is sclerotherapy – the injection of small amounts of a special solution directly into unwanted veins. This collapses and shrinks the treated veins which are later reabsorbed by the body’s natural healing response. It is a brief office procedure which requires no anesthesia.
Because we use very small needles, and because the FDA-approved solution we use does not cause intense burning like hypertonic saline, there is only minor discomfort.
In most cases, feeder “reticular” veins are treated simultaneously with the spider veins to prevent recurrence of the same veins. “Reticular” veins are visible as larger, blue-green veins which often follow a zigzag course to reach spider vein patches. Many doctors performing sclerotherapy as a sideline either ignore or avoid treating these feeder leg veins.
After sclerotherapy, one must avoid vigorous aerobic activities, walk one hour daily, and wear compression stockings. This is for several days after spider vein treatment, but does not apply after VeinGogh treatment. The patient can return to work directly from the office, and carry on with normal activities immediately.
