If you’re looking to clear away the spider veins that have been troubling you for years, your doctor may recommend sclerotherapy, the most common treatment option for this condition. Although spider veins don’t pose a particularly high risk, their appearance can put a damper on a person’s confidence.
Nicknamed such because they can sometimes look like extensive purple spiderwebs across a person’s leg, spider veins are formally known as varicose veins. They develop when the walls of your blood vessels weaken and blood collects in them, causing these veins to enlarge and become prominent.
For some people with varicose veins, or spider veins, the cause could be hereditary. They could also be caused by hormonal fluctuations, such as those you would experience during pregnancy or menopause, or they could develop from long hours of standing, which is required in professions like nursing and teaching. Complications associated with varicose veins include discomfort as well as risk of blood clots.
Doctors have used sclerotherapy for close to 100 years, so its success is well established. The procedure entails injecting a chemical solution into the vein via a needle. When this solution enters the vein, the veins close up and the blood is then redirected to other, healthier veins. The closed-up vein is then absorbed into any body tissue surrounding it.
The procedure is minimally invasive and usually takes less than an hour—sometimes as little as 15 minutes. While some varicose veins might require repeated administration, many can be treated with just one injection. The most complicated part of recovery could be minor discomfort immediately following, and in the weeks afterward, your doctor could instruct you to wear compression socks, as these will help with swelling and overall healing.
