How Does Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins Work?

By Dr. Edward Mackay

August 19, 2022


Spider veins, the thin, purplish lines on your face or legs, are more than a nuisance. These tiny surface veins look unattractive, and they can co-exist with more prominent, problematic varicose veins.

 

Let’s talk about how easy sclerotherapy virtually makes them disappear and where you can go in Tampa, FL, for outstanding treatment of spider veins.

How Do Spider Veins Develop?

Spider veins are tiny blood vessels responsible for returning blood to the heart. Like larger, deeper veins, spider veins contain little valves preventing circulation backflow. If the valves don’t function properly, blood stays put, stagnating, causing the characteristic twisted purple to the red appearance of these tiny blood vessels. Their appearance becomes more and more apparent and problematic to those with them.

 

Who gets spider veins? More women than men develop these tiny varicosities, particularly due to pregnancy. Weight gain is a factor, too, along with lack of physical activity, increasing age, and heredity. If your relatives have spider veins, there is a greater chance that you may develop them, too.

Treating Spider Veins with Sclerotherapy

Treating them as distressing as spider veins can be is not as difficult as you think. Your vascular surgeon carefully assesses patients with spider veins and often recommends a highly successful treatment called sclerotherapy.

 

Minimally invasive, non-surgical, and quick sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical irritant directly into the affected veins. This chemical closes the targeted spider veins, and the blood in them reroutes to nearby vessels.

 

As the injection therapy proceeds, the patient can see the spider veins begin to disappear, and the veins do not return. Once they are injected, they are gone for good. Plus, patients experience little to no downtime after their in-office treatments.

 

The side effects of sclerotherapy are mild and occur around the injection sites. They include:

  • Redness
  • Limited bruising
  • Some soreness
  • Increased skin pigmentation (which is temporary)

 

The vein doctor usually instructs people to wear compression stockings for two weeks or so and to avoid direct sunlight on the treated areas.

 

Most people in good general health can undergo in-office treatments for spider veins. However, if you are breastfeeding or pregnant, you should postpone sclerotherapy. People with clotting disorders, arterial disease, or allergies to the chemical irritant should not use this vein treatment.

Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins Near Me

Most people enjoy up to a 90 percent reduction in the number and appearance of their spider veins when they use state-of-the-art sclerotherapy. If you would like to see if you are a candidate and further discuss what treatment and recovery look like, call the office of Edward G. Mackay and Associates for an expert and friendly consultation with our physician. Dr. Mackay has used sclerotherapy on numerous patients who desire improved physical appearance and self-confidence.

 

Please contact us for an appointment by calling at (727) 527-2888, or request an appointment online by filling in our consultation form. We have three locations for your convenience: Palm Harbor, Largo, and St. Petersburg, FL. We look forward to serving you!

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The Trusted Vein Expert in Tampa