Varicose and spider veins, those unattractive formations of bluish vessels that develop just underneath a person’s skin, have been cursed as deformities for centuries. More than just hideous markings, these abnormal veins have also been known to cause aching, burning, swelling and night cramps. Many different methods over the years have since been developed to treat these unsightly blemishes, and advances in technology have most recently provided us with treatments that utilize lasers to burn away the errant veins. Other techniques have withstood the test of time, refined by modern science but still utilizing the basic principles that led to the invention of the treatment so long ago. One such procedure, used to eradicate varicose and spider veins for over 150 years, is known as sclerotherapy.

Renowned as the most effective method for dealing with aesthetic vein problems even today, sclerotherapy involves the injection of sterile sclerosing solution with a fine needle into the troublesome veins. The agent introduced to the vein irritates its lining, causing the sides of the vein interior to stick together and seal. Eventually, the treated vein fades away as it dissolves back into the body over a period of several weeks. The process itself takes between 30 to 45 minutes to perform, and usually only a local anesthetic is applied to minimize discomfort. The patient will be made to wear a compression garment or bandage over the treated area to further facilitate proper dissolution for about two weeks, during which time she will be encouraged to walk regularly. More than one treatment is normally prescribed, with each treatment spaced apart over several weeks, for the best results.

Lately, surgeons have been using a foam sclerosing agent that works far better than liquid injections at sealing veins, since the foam displaces instead of being diluted into the blood, and is likely to produce better results.

Sometimes, the procedure is performed with the assistance of ultrasound machines, especially for larger varicose veins. Once an ultrasound image of the patient’s veins is captured, the veins will be injected with a sclerosing agent, and the flow of the fluid will also be monitored by ultrasound to ensure that the entire network of the vein has been treated properly.

Sclerotherapy is considered by cosmetic surgeons to be the best overall non-invasive method of dealing with varicose and spider veins, as it can more successfully these irregularities regardless of their size or location, unlike lasers, which can only manage vein deformities of particular sizes, not being able to penetrate properly into all of the blood vessel layers beneath the skin. The sclerosing agent also seeps into the feeder veins that cause the formation of these abnormal vein conditions, preventing them from resurfacing in the future.

The level of risk of complications arising from sclerotherapy is quite rare, but some side effects do occur. Swelling, bruising and redness are common and should all vanish within a few days. Sometimes, the sclerosing agent may be injected accidentally outside of the vein, causing tissue necrosis and scarring. Skin necrosis in particular is very damaging and could take months to fully heal. Brown lines or spots can also develop on the treated site, and usually disappear in a few months, but a remote percentage of such defects permanently embed themselves into the skin. Blood clots may also form in the injected vein.

Anyone affilicted with varicose and spider veins is a good candidate for sclerotherapy treatment, but certain individuals are discouraged from undergoing the procedure. These are women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who will be asked to wait a period of at least three months before considering treatment. People who are bedridden due to some illness or permanent condition should also avoid sclerotherapy.