Houston TX Medical Spa

Treating Spider Veins with Sclerotherapy

Spider veins are the small yet unsightly clusters of red, blue, or purple veins which frequently appear on the thighs, calves, and ankles. They are known as telangiectasias or sunburst varicosities to the medical world. These veins lie very close to the surface of the skin. While they are connected with the larger venous system, they are not essential to blood circulation. To remove them, they are treated with sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy is a simple procedure. It is done by injecting a sclerosing solution into the veins. When this is done, the spider veins collapse and eventually fade from view. Sclerotherapy, in addition to removing the spider veins, may also eliminate or relive the symptoms which are frequently associated with spider veins. These symptoms include aching, burning, swelling, and night cramps.

Since the late 1950s, women across Europe have been receiving this treatment to eliminate their spider veins. Women in the United States have only been enjoying spider vein-free legs for the past decade or so.

The procedure gained popularity once a sclerosing agent that was mild enough to be used in small veins was developed. A mild agent made sclerotherapy predictable and also relatively painless. Sclerotherapy will remove a large number of visible spider veins but it is an unrealistic expectation to expect that every affected vein will disappear. After each sclerotherapy session, the veins will appear lighter. Two or more sessions are generally required to achieve optimal results.

For more information on removing your spider or varicose veins, please contact the Houston medical spa expert Dr. Kim Vo of Dermagenix at 713-662-3376.