Spider veins, leg telangiectasia, broken capillaries and varicose veins on the legs can all be treated with sclerotherapy – small injections of a solution which causes the vessels to close.
The treatment is best for small and medium sized vessels and can be combined with laser therapy.
Downtime is minimal, although compression stockings after treatment are usually recommended.
Commonly, 1 – 3 treatment sessions are required.
Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for small varicose veins and spider veins, whereby a solution is injected directly into the veins using tiny needles. This injection irritates the vessels and causes them to close.
The area to be treated is cleaned before each of the veins is injected with a special solution using a very fine needle. The solution irritates or inflames the vessel which then closes over time. Each injection feel like a small sting, and is generally very well tolerated. The veins lighten whilst the solution is being injected and then appear red and swollen several minutes after as the solution irritates the vessel wall. This is repeated until all the troublesome veins have been injected. Treatment usually takes 30 – 40 minutes.
After Sclerotherapy there is usually some redness and swelling along the course of the treated veins. This may persist for some days to weeks, depending upon the size of the treated veins. Bruising and minor discomfort can occasionally occur.
You will usually need to wear support stockings for 5 – 7 days after your treatment. For this reason, many people find it more comfortable to have sclerotherapy in the cooler months. Vigorous exercise should be avoided for one week after treatment, although daily walking is encouraged. You cannot fly or drive long distances for 10 days after treatment.
Sclerotherapy results in a gradual improvement in the appearance of visible vessels over a period of 6 weeks after treatment. 2 – 4 treatments may be required to get the best results, but you will usually see an improvement after the first treatment. Not all people respond to sclerotherapy though, and non-response or recurrence occurs in a proportion of cases. In some cases other types of treatment may be recommended by our staff – in particular if major varicose veins are present. In this case, surgery or endovenous laser treatment may be best.
Prior to any vein treatment, you will have an initial consultation with one of our medical staff who will decide if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Sclerotherapy should not be performed if you have a personal or family history of blood clotting disorder or DVT (deep vein thrombosis), or if you are pregnant or have significant other illnesses. In some of these cases laser therapy of leg spider veins is a suitable alternative.
Read more about our other body treatments including leg vein treatment, bumps and blemishes and excessive sweating
