Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat unwanted blood vessels such as spider veins and varicose veins. Spider veins are dilated small blood vessels with a red or bluish color that can cover small or large pieces of skin and become noticeable.

About the Procedure

One of several kinds of sclerosing solutions is injected with a very fine needle directly into the blood vessel. Over a period of weeks, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades, eventually becoming barely noticeable or invisible. You may need to treat a single blood vessel more than once, some weeks apart, depending on its size. In any one session, doctors can inject a number of vessels. Occasionally, larger varicose veins exist underneath the spider veins. You may treat these larger veins through sclerotherapy, but it is not necessary to treat varicose veins in order to treat spider veins, or vice versa.

The solutions available are slightly different and the choice of which solution to use depends on several factors including the size of the vessel to be injected. Our physicians can decide the solution that is best for your particular case.

Sclerotherapy may have side effects such as minor muscle cramping, red raised areas, red or brown spots, bruising, or a minor allergic reaction to the sclerosing solution. None of these side effects is major, and most disappear on their own or can be treated relatively easily.

What are spider veins and varicose veins?

Spider veins are dilated, small blood vessels that have a red or bluish color. They occur mostly on the legs, occasionally on the face or elsewhere, and are often unwanted. Varicose veins are large dilated blood vessels that may be raised above the skin surface and may cause discomfort.

What causes spider veins and varicose veins to become visible?

The cause of dilated veins is unknown, although they seem to run in families. Spider veins appear in both men and women, but more frequently in women. Puberty, birth control pills, pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy may bring them out. Spider veins on the nose or the cheeks of fair-skinned people may be related to sun exposure.

How are unwanted blood vessels on the legs treated?

In a majority of cases, sclerotherapy is used. A sclerosing solution is injected with a very fine needle directly into the blood vessel. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together and the blood to clot. Over a period of weeks, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades, eventually becoming barely noticeable or invisible.

A single blood vessel may have to be injected more than once, some weeks apart, depending on its size. In any one treatment session a number of vessels can be injected. The solutions available are slightly different and the choice of which to use depends on several factors including the size of the vessel to be injected. Our physicians can determine which solution is best for your particular case.

How successful is sclerotherapy?

After several treatments, most patients can expect a 50 percent to 90 percent improvement. However, fading is gradual. Disappearance of spider veins is usually achieved, but similar veins may appear in the same general area.

Can sclerotherapy be used on all skin types?

Yes. All skin types and skin colors respond equally well.

Are there side effects to sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy may have side effects such as minor muscle cramping, red raised areas, red or brown spots, bruising, or a minor allergic reaction to the sclerosing solution. None of these side effects is major, and most disappear on their own or can be treated relatively easily.

Will treated veins recur?

Larger veins are likely to recur unless support hose are worn. Spider veins may also recur. It may seem that a previously injected vessel has recurred when, in fact, a new spider vein has appeared in the same area.

Is a history of blood clots in the lungs or legs a reason to avoid therapy?

Not necessarily, but the procedure must be done with caution to lessen the risk of blood clots.

Are there are other treatment methods?

New lasers may hold promise for treating blood vessels, but currently vessels in the legs do not respond uniformly to laser treatment. Surgically tying off veins (ligation) or pulling them out (stripping) are other procedures for treating unwanted blood vessels. They are usually reserved for large varicose veins.

How are spider veins on the face treated?

There are several ways to treat spider veins on the face. Lasers have been used successfully, alone or in combination with electric needle therapy.