SPIDER VEINS AND SCLEROTHERAPY-INFORMATION SHEET

Spider veins are the small, dilated blood vessels on the legs that may be purple or red in color. They are unsightly, uncomfortable and unavoidable for millions of people. The longer you have them, the worse they can become. Some people have no discomfort from spider veins. Some people can experience burning, cramping, throbbing and aches from the veins.

Spider veins tend to run in families. Women are more likely to get them. Pregnancy, hormone replacement and birth control pills can be contributing factors. Jobs that require a lot of sitting or standing can also contribute to spider veins, so do certain activities, such as mountain biking, stair stepping and leg crossing.

Treating the spider veins with sclerotherapy can help improve them. Sclerotherapy is the injection of a solution into the veins, which cause them to close off and fade away over four to six weeks. We most often use a solution called hypertonic saline to do this. We can treat the spider veins and some of the medium sized veins with sclerotherapy. But larger veins cannot be treated in our office.

The technique of sclerotherapy is not perfect. Expect improvement, not a cure. In generally it takes more than one series of injections to remove each of the vessels being treated. Fading is gradual, not every vessel may disappear completely. New vessels can appear following treatment. Touch ups may be needed. The success of the treatment is 60 to 80 percent reduction of blood vessels.

There may be side effects:
Common

• Stinging or pain at the sight of injection
• Muscle cramps (usually occurs if the injections are by the ankle)
• Red, raised areas at the sight of injection
• Brown lines or spots on the skin at the sights of treated blood vessels
• Additional formation of new fine vessels (Neo-vascularization)
• Bruising

Rare

• Ulcer (skin breakdown), more likely in the ankle area
• Allergic reaction to sclerosing solutions
• Thrombolic phenomenon (when clots occur, they are not dangerous, but they resolve more quickly with drainage)

The side effects listed above are temporary. Some last only minutes, others take days or weeks. Not everyone experiences side effects. If you follow the after care instructions side effects can be minimized.

Contraindications to treatment: patients with active thrombophlebitis, poor circulation, severe venous insufficiency, those who are non-ambulatory, pregnant or allergic to sclerosants.

Leg vein treatment is not covered by insurance. Most patients who have their leg veins treated are very pleased with their results.


INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCLEROTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS

•	Bring Shorts
•	No moisturizer or moisturizing soap 48 hours prior to treatment
•	No shaving 48 hours prior to treatment
•	Please eat breakfast or lunch before your appointment
•	Please be prepared to pay in full at the time of your appointment
•	48-hour cancellation notice must be given or a charge may be incurred

POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS

•	Keep legs wrapped for 24 hours
•	We recommend use of support stockings for 2 weeks after treatment
•	No sun exposure pf the areas treated for 1 week
•	Expect to see improvement by the end of the third week