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Bid for Surgery: Spider Veins
Spider Veins
| Procedure: |
Although this procedure has been used in
Europe for more than 50 years, it has only become popular in the United States during the
past decade. The introduction of sclerosing agents that are mild enough to be used in
small veins has made sclerotherapy predictable and relatively painless. |
| Risk Factor: |
Serious medical complications from
sclerotherapy are extremely rare when the procedure is performed by a qualified
practitioner. However, they may occur. |
| Side Effects: |
Risks include the formation of blood clots
in the veins, severe inflammation, adverse allergic reactions to the sclerosing solution
and skin injury that could leave a small but permanent scar. |
| Length: |
15 to 45 minutes |
| Anesthesia: |
requires no anesthesia |
| In/Out: |
So it will be performed in an outpatient
setting, most likely your doctor's office. |
| Recovery: |
A few day. |
| Duration: |
Normally permanent, new spider veins may
form @ different sites. |
| The Procedure |
A typical sclerotherapy session is relatively
quick. After changing into shorts, your legs may be photographed for your medical records.
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 or nurse will begin injecting the sclerosing agent into the affected veins. Bright,
indirect light and magnification help ensure that the process is completed with maximum
precision.
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 is applied
to each area of the leg as it is finished.
During the procedure, you may listen to music, read, or just talk to your practitioner.
You will be asked to shift positions a few times during the process. 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. |
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| The best candidates for a |
Women of any age may be good
candidates for sclerotherapy, but most fall in the 30-to-60 category. In some women,
spider veins may become noticeable very early on - in the teen years. For others, the
veins may not become obvious until they reach their 40s.
Spider veins on the leg usually appear
in one of three patterns: (a) simple
linear (b) arborizing, which appear
branch-like, and (c) spider, which
appear as a cartwheel shape with a
dark center point.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be advised to postpone sclerotherapy
treatment. In most cases, spider veins that surface during pregnancy will disappear on
their own within three months after the baby is born. Also, because it's not known how
sclerosing solutions may affect breast milk, nursing mothers are usually advised to wait
until after they have stopped breastfeeding.
Spider veins in men aren't nearly as common as they are in women. Men who do have spider
veins often don't consider them to be a cosmetic problem because the veins are usually
concealed by hair growth on the leg. However, sclerotherapy is just as effective for men
who seek treatment.
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| Types of anesthesia |
Requires no
anesthesia. |
|
| The injection procedure |
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 is applied to each area of the leg
as it is finished.
During the procedure, you may listen to music, read, or just talk to your practitioner.
You will be asked to shift positions a few times during the process. 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.
The skin is held taut while the injection
of sclerosing solution is administered
under bright light and magnification.
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| Do I have to stay in a
hospital after the surgery? |
So it will be
performed in an outpatient setting, most likely your doctor's office. |
|
| Risk factors, complications, side effects?
|
Serious medical complications from sclerotherapy
are extremely rare when the procedure is performed by a qualified practitioner. However,
they may occur. Risks include the formation of blood clots in the veins, severe
inflammation, adverse allergic reactions to the sclerosing solution and skin injury that
could leave a small but permanent scar.
A common cosmetic complication is pigmentation irregularity - brownish splotches on the
affected skin that may take months to fade, sometimes up to a year. Another problem that
can occur is "telangiectatic matting," in which fine reddish blood vessels
appear around the treated area, requiring further injections.
You can reduce the risks associated with treatment by choosing a doctor who has adequate
training in sclerotherapy and is well versed in the different types of sclerosing agents
available. A qualified doctor can help you select which type of sclerosing medication is
most appropriate for your needs. |
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| How long would recovery take? |
In addition to the compression tape applied
during the procedure, tight-fitting support hose may be prescribed to guard against blood
clots and to promote healing. The tape and cotton balls can be removed after 48 hours.
However, you may be instructed to wear the support hose for 72 hours or more. 
A cotton ball and compression tape are
applied to each treated area. Elastic
bandages or stockings may be used to
help further the action of the injected
medication.
It's not uncommon to experience some cramping in the legs for the first
day or two after the injections. This temporary problem usually doesn't require
medication.
You should be aware that your treated veins will look worse before they begin to look
better. When the compression dressings are removed, you will notice bruising and reddish
areas at the injection sites. The bruises will diminish within one month. In many cases,
there may be some residual brownish pigmentation which may take up to a year to completely
fade.
One month after the first treatment,
spider veins are distinctly lighter, yet
still somewhat visible. |
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| Would I have a new look? |
Most patients are pleased with the difference
sclerotherapy makes. The skin of your legs will appear younger, clearer and more
healthy-looking. If you've been wearing long skirts and slacks to hide your spider veins,
you'll now be able to broaden your fashion horizons. Often, patients are surprised at the
dramatic difference in appearance between a treated leg and an untreated one.
Although sclerotherapy will obliterate the noticeable veins for good, it's important to
remember that treatment will not prevent new spider veins from emerging in the future. As
time passes, you may find that you need "touch-ups" or full treatments for new
veins that surface. But even if you choose not to have further sclerotherapy, your legs
will look better than if you never had treatment at all
After two or more treatments, the leg
appears noticeably clearer and more
attractive.
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Cost of this procedure varies with region from a low of
$500
to a high of $1500. This cost includes surgeon's fee,
anesthesia, and facility costs. |
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