Sclerotherapy:
Spider veins are small, bluish veins seen on various areas of the legs and occasionally the face. They can resemble a bruise in appearance however, small spider veins make up the network. They are typically painless and without associate symptoms , although some may cause local itching of the skin overlying the area or surrounding. Spider veins may be linked to a medical condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is a very common condition affecting more than 50 million Americans. The main cause is leaky valves in the leg veins which can be detected by a quick ultrasound.
Spider veins can be treated by injecting a medication (known as sclerosant) directly into the spider veins with a small, pinpoint-sized needle; similar to a Botox needle. Local numbing cream may be applied to the overlying skin prior to treatment. The solution works by flushing out the blood within the small veins and damaging the cells lining the vein wall. Veins are seen to spasm and ‘blanch’ or disappear during the procedure. The procedure typically takes 15-20 minutes with no downtime and immediate return to normal daily activities. Our physician, Dr Altuwaijri will then decide if a compression stockings would need to be worn. The advice of wearing compression stockings is a case to case decision depending on the underlying cause and the presence of symptoms.
The medication used at OC VeinCare is an FDA-approved solution which provides a safe and effective, permanent solution for spider vein treatment. Dr. Altuwaijri may choose to use foam sclerotherapy or straight solution sclerotherapy depending on each patient’s individual needs. The feeder veins leading to the spider vein cluster is very easily identified using adjunctive measures such as magnification lenses and a special light and if present, will be targeted during spider vein treatment. This ensures the source of the spider veins are treated, resulting in the best optimal results.
