Sclerotherapy
(Spider Vein Therapy)Pregnancy, prolonged standing and heredity are the primary causes of unsightly and often painful varicose and spider veins. As we age, more visible leg veins frequently emerge and our existing veins become increasingly noticeable. Spider veins most commonly show up on the legs but can also appear on the face. There is a simple solution to this problem. A sclerosing solution and a cosmetic procedure called Sclerotherapy!
Sclero and laser therapy treats the small purple and red blood vessels (spider veins) most commonly found on the thighs, lower legs and ankles. Spider veins or cherry spots may also appear on the trunk and face. Treatment of selected spider veins is fast and simple with laser energy. The laser is targeted on the spider vein, causing it to coagulate. The body then removes the collapsed vein within 8-12 weeks. Not all veins are treatable with this process; smaller spider veins (1-3mm) that are predominantly blue or purple in color are the veins that work best.
If the blood vessels are too large for laser therapy, then a combination of laser and sclerotherapy are used. During the sclerotherapy procedure, a solution is injected into the vein through a micro-needle, which generally causes very little pain. The solution causes the vein to turn white and then gradually disappear from the skin surface. A typical treatment takes 15 to 20 minutes and consists of multiple injections. Sclero and laser therapy may eliminate the need for an invasive surgical procedure.
At LightCare Medical Spa, we recognize the unique needs of each client and will help you identify the appropriate procedure for each area to be treated. To produce desired results, we offer a custom treatment program that uses either laser or sclero therapies or a combination to maximize long-term benefits.
What are Spider and Varicose Veins?
Spider veins and varicose veins are often lumped together, but they are actually very different conditions. Varicose veins are caused by faulty valves in the venous system, creating twisted and swollen veins. Varicose veins are larger, darker and tend to bulge with a rope-like texture on the skin's surface. Varicose veins are also more likely to cause pain and be related to more serious vein disorders.
In contrast, spider veins are smaller and closer to the skin's surface in a branch-like or linear formation. Treatment of varicose veins is generally considered outside the realm of cosmetic surgery and patients are often referred to a vascular surgeon.
Millions of men and women are bothered by spider veins--small, unsightly clusters of red, blue, or purple veins that usually appear on thighs, calves and ankles and occasionally on the face. An estimated fifty percent of the adult female population and fifteen to twenty percent of adult males share this cosmetic problem.
Spider veins are small, thin capillaries that lie close to the surface of the skin. They are connected to a larger venous system, though they are not an essential part of it since they do not actually carry blood to the heart.
Many factors can contribute to the development of spider veins, including pregnancy, weight gain, chronic sun exposure, activities that demand prolonged standing or sitting, heredity and certain medications, such as birth control pills or hormone replacement medication.
Spider veins form when excess blood backs up in the blood stream. The excess blood creates pressure. The body releases the pressure by creating new veins on the skin's surface. The primary problem with spider veins is their unsightly appearance, but they can also cause aching, swelling, burning and night cramps in legs.
What is a Sclerotherapy Procedure?
Sclerotherapy treatment is fairly simple: The skin around the spider veins is cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Then the doctor pulls the skin tight around the spider vein area while injecting a chemical solution into the vein. Light Care Medical Spa is pleased to offer the only FDA-approved sclerosing agent available in the US, a solution called Sotradecol. Sotradecol causes inflammation, which stops the blood flow within the veins. When blood stops flowing, the veins collapse. The collapsed vein wall seals itself and the vein is absorbed back into the surrounding tissue.
Sclerotherapy requires no anesthetic; pain is minimal due to the thin needle used and the mild sclerosing solution. The procedure takes fifteen minutes to an hour or more, depending on the number and size of the spider veins being treated. Anywhere from five to forty injections are given per treatment session, and it may take two to four sessions to rid the area of spider veins�especially for patients with more extensive spider vein conditions.
Will Sclerotherapy Work on My Veins?
The majority of persons who have completed their treatment with sclerotherapy alone or in combination with surgery will see good to excellent improvement in their vein problems. Unfortunately, however, there is no guarantee that sclerotherapy will be effective in every case. Approximately 10 percent of patients who undergo sclerotherapy have results that range from poor to fair with no vein disappearance after a few treatments.
What Should I Expect After Treatment?
Following the injections, the treated area is wrapped in a compressed bandage or stocking, and the patient is sent home. The bandage can be removed after five days. There may be slight itching for a day or two after the treatment owing to a mild release of histamine from the treated blood vessels.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments needed to clear or improve the condition differs from person to person, depending on the extent of varicose and spider veins present. One to six treatments may be needed; the average is two to four.
