Sclerotherapy FAQ's

Q. Will sclerotherapy cure my spider veins?
A. While successfully treated spider veins will be removed permanently, sclerotherapy does not prevent new veins from forming. (Further treatments may be necessary). The size of the veins to be treated, their location and depth are some of the factors that cause results to vary. Some health factors also come into play including age, medication, family history and pre-existing conditions. You will learn more at your private consultation.

Q. What will my legs look like after treatment?
A. You can expect some redness, slight swelling and possible light bruising at each injection site. The number of injections will vary depending on the size of the vessel to be treated, and where it is located. You will have cotton balls applied to each injection site with tape for mild compression and then these areas will be wrapped or compression stockings will be worn for added compression. The cotton balls can be removed later that day or in the evening.

Q. How soon will I see results?
A. You can expect to see treated spider veins resolving as early as one week and up to eight weeks. Again, this varies with the area being treated and the individual. During treatment we will often see a vein ''blanch'' or clear as it is treated but when the treatment is complete it reappears or ''fills''. This does not mean the treatment was unsuccessful. In essence, your body must heal and absorb the spider veins that have been treated with the sclerosant solution. Often, the veins will look the same or slightly worse before they start to look better and some sites may require a second application of sclerosant solution. On occasion, there will be veins resistant to injection sclerotherapy and others that may be caused by reflux in the long saphenous vein. In suspected cases of reflux, you might want to consider an ultrasound evaluation to make this determination.

Q. How long does sclerotherapy take?
A. Treatment sessions typically last between 20-60 minutes and involve several injections with a very fine needle (about one injection is required for each inch of spider vein). Depending on the number of areas to be treated, several sessions may be necessary to achieve the desired result.

Q. Is sclerotherapy painful?
A. There is some discomfort upon injection and some treatment areas and individuals are more sensitive than others. However, post-treatment pain is rare. Some tenderness to the touch on treated areas is to be expected.

Q. Are there complications I should know about?
A. Complications from injection sclerotherapy are uncommon, but can occur and include bruising, inflammation, pigmentation, allergic reaction to the sclerosant agent and rarely, skin ulceration. These risks can be reduced when performed by a qualified practitioner who has adequate training in sclerotherapy.

Q. Do I need compression stockings? If so, where do I get them?
A. Yes, you should wear compression stockings in order to have the desired level of compression on your treatment sites. Wearing your stockings is required for a minimum of three days to ensure good results. For your convenience, prescription grade compression stockings are available at VenaCare®.

Q. What should I do if I have some concerns after my spider vein therapy?
A. You should contact the office any time you have a concern. We want you to be confident in your care

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