Spider Vein Injection – Sclerotherapy Manhattan

Spider veins, also called telangiectasias, are tiny visible vessels just underneath the skin. They develop most commonly on the face and legs. They are much smaller than varicose veins, which are larger distended veins that appear as bluish bumps and may be painful. Dr. Hutchinson treats spider veins but varicose veins are referred to a vascular surgeon. Varicose veins must be treated prior to successful treatment of spider veins.

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a liquid agent, either normal saline or a sclerosing compound, through a tiny needle directly into your spider veins, causing them to contract and collapse. Dr. Hutchinson performs the procedure in her office is relatively painless. Depending on the number of spider veins, the procedure may require anywhere from a few minutes to one hour. Afterward, you will wear ace bandages or compression hose for three to ten days as recommended by Dr. Hutchinson. You may resume sedentary activities immediately but should avoid exercise, hot baths and alcohol for two to three days. You should anticipate some improvement in spider veins following each sclerotherapy session. Expect that several sclerotherapy sessions at one to two month intervals may be necessary to achieve your desired results. Understand that some spider veins may never be completely successfully treated through sclerotherapy.

An alternative treatment modality for spider veins is laser treatment, which may be employed separately or in combination with sclerotherapy. Lasers may be preferred for spider veins that are extremely small or those on the face. Laser treatment may require several sessions to achieve its desired result.

To read more about sclerotherapy, click here.