Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Spider veins are small, thin veins that lie close
to the surface of the skin. Although these
super-fine veins are connected with the larger
venous system, they are not an essential part
of it.
A number of factors contribute to the
development of spider veins, including
heredity, pregnancy hormonal shifts, weight
gain, occupations or activities that require
prolonged sitting or standing, and the use
of certain medications
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BASS Medical Group Office Policies and Fees
- Sclerotherapy is considered a cosmetic
procedure by most insurance companies
and therefore will not be covered. We will
not submit any charges to your insurance
company. Payment for all visits are due at
the time of service.
- We accept credit/debit cards.
INITIAL CONSULTATION
- Usually covered by insurance
- Meeting with the Doctor to discuss the
procedure, examination of the affected area
answer questions, etc. The procedure
will not be done during this visit.
$500 per 15-minute session
Treatment costs are based on time, not the number of injection sites. Each session is 15minutes long at a cost of $500 per session. Patients typically require multiple sessions for optimal results.
Most patients require multiple visits to fully treat all spider veins. The total number of sessions needed varies based on the individual and the condition.
There are no guarantees on actual results and
possible re-occurrence. Each patient’s results
will vary.
After Your Treatment
It is important after the injections that you do not stand still for long periods. If you have a job that involves a lot of standing, it is important to arrange a few days off work after the injections. In addition to the compression tape applied during the procedure, tight-fitting support hose may be prescribed to promote healing. Prolonged sitting and standing should be avoided, as should squatting, heavy weight lifting, and “pounding” type exercises, including jogging. It’s not uncommon to experience some cramping in the legs for the first day or two after the injections.Brown staining of the skin around the site of the injection can be common. Some resolution can occur in the 12 months after the injections. Keep in mind that your legs may be bruised or slightly discolored for some weeks afterward, this is normal.
Your New Look
Most patients are pleased with the difference Sclerotherapy makes. You should be aware that your treated veins will look worse before they begin to look better.Complete correction of the treated area is not expected on the first treatment. On average, three treatments are necessary for complete correction. In most cases, about 50–70% of the treated vessels will be gone for good. However, new veins may appear and additional treatments are generally required for optimum results.
Planning Your Treatment
During your initial consultation, your legs will be examined and checked for signs of more serious veins.Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps. These valves prevent the blood from flowing backwards as it moves up the legs. If the one-way valves become weak, blood can leak back into the vein and collect there. This problem is called venous insufficiency. Pooled blood enlarges the vein and it becomes varicose. If such problems are identified, the larger veins must be treated first.Besides a physical exam, your doctor can take ultrasound pictures of the vein to find the cause and severity of the problem.
The Procedure
A typical sclerotherapy session is relatively quick, lasting only about 15 to 45 minutes.You will be asked to lie down on the examination table and the skin over your spider veins will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Using one hand to stretch the skin taut, your doctor will begin injecting the sclerosing agent into the affected veins. Approximately one injection is administered for every inch of spider vein — anywhere from five to 40 injections per treatment session.A cotton ball and compression tape will be applied to each area of the leg as it is finished. As the procedure continues, you will feel small needle sticks and possibly a mild burning sensation. However, the needle used is so thin and the sclerosing solution is so mild that pain is usually minimal.
What to Expect From Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy can enhance your appearance, but it’s unrealistic to believe that every affected vein will disappear completely as a result of treatment. Sclerotherapy works best in smaller spider/thread veins.Even if your veins are suitable for injection sclerotherapy, it is important that you have a frank discussion with your surgeon about the potential benefit and limitations of injections. It is important to be clear from the beginning what will be possible and what will not be possible.In some patients with very minor thread veins, injections may leave skin pigmentation that is worse than the actual veins themselves.
What is Vein Injection Sclerotherapy?
Injection sclerotherapy is a treatment that intentionally damages the lining (endothelium) of small veins. Doing this and then applying pressure, the vein walls stick together. The vein can then no longer fill with blood and so it is obliterated. The compression applied after the injection is an essential part of the therapy.
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What is Vein Injection Sclerotherapy?
Spider veins on the leg usually appear in one of three patterns:(a) simple linear
(b) arborizing, which appear branch-like
(c) spider, which appear as a cartwheel shape with a dark center point.
Diminishing Unsighlty “Spider Veins”
Millions of women are bothered by spider veins, those small yet unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple veins that most commonly appear on the thighs, calves and ankles.In fact, it’s estimated that at least half of the adult female population is plagued with this common cosmetic problem. Surgeons are treating spider veins with sclerotherapy. In this rather simple procedure, veins are injected with a sclerosing solution, which causes them to collapse and fade from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps.