Got Spider Veins? Here is How You Can Get Rid of Them
If you have thin yet prominent blueish-purplish or red veins on your face or legs, you’re not alone. Experts estimate that up to approximately 30%-60% of adults develop these veins — known as spider veins — at some point in their life.
Although spider veins are quite common and are not harmful to your overall health, if you’re like a lot of people who have them, they may make you feel self-conscious. But here’s the good news: You don’t have to wear spider veins if they're not your style.
Sclerotherapy, a medical skin care treatment that originated hundreds of years ago, is a highly effective spider vein treatment that’s designed to banish those confidence-busting veins for good. Read on to learn more about sclerotherapy for spider veins and whether it’s right for you.
What Is Sclerotherapy? A Brief Overview and History
Rudimentary forms of sclerotherapy were first developed in the 17th century to treat venous conditions. Over the last few hundred years, the procedure became increasingly refined with the development of syringes and more effective sclerosants. When ultrasound was developed in the 1970s, sclerotherapy essentially became the minimally invasive treatment that medical professionals administer today.
The procedure involves injecting a liquid or foam medication (the sclerosant) into the affected veins. That solution causes the vein walls to harden, shrink, collapse, and ultimately, fade away. Before the injections take place, your medical provider will likely perform an ultrasound to determine where to place each injection.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy treatments allow your practitioner to pinpoint the exact location of the spider veins, which helps ensure the treatment is highly effective.
Potential Side Effects of Sclerotherapy Treatments
The risk of serious side effects from sclerotherapy treatments for spider veins is quite low; however, the following mild side effects are common after the procedure:
● Raised red areas on the skin
● Bruising
● Lines or spots that darken the skin
● Minor skin sores
● Visible tiny red blood cells
These side effects typically diminish within a few days to a few weeks after treatment, but for some people, several months may be required to see full resolution. If you’re considering sclerotherapy treatments, it’s important to have a pre-procedure consultation to determine whether you’re a candidate for treatment and what your risk of complications may be.
Your medical practitioner will perform an evaluation and get your medical history to determine whether you may be at risk for more serious treatment-related complications. While extremely rare, inflammation, blood clots, allergic reactions, and tiny air bubbles in the vein have been reported after the procedure.
Keep in mind that all medical procedures involving any form of injection come with a certain degree of risk — however small it may be — of side effects.
Is Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins the Right Treatment for You?
If you’re tired of feeling self-conscious about your spider veins, you have options. Don’t hesitate to contact our team at Medical Tattoo Centers of America to learn more about sclerotherapy and whether it’s right for you. Be sure to check out our reviews and gallery, too, to learn more about what we do!
To get started, feel free to request a complimentary consultation online or call our Blaine, MN clinic at 612-770-0000. If you have any questions or concerns, send us a message with your information, and we’ll be in touch!