So you think you'll never wear shorts again because of those spider veins? Think again. Because of sclerotherapy, you can get rid of those veins quickly and painlessly.

Some estimates place half of the adult female population of the US with this unsightly vein condition. Spider vein treatment can significantly diminish the appearance of existing spider veins, however, it cannot prevent new ones from occurring.

Spider veins are clusters of thin red, blue, or purple colored veins resembling spider legs that appear on the thighs, calves, ankles, and sometimes the face. Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins. . Varicose veins are similar to spider veins, but usually refer to larger veins that bulge and may require a different type of treatment or surgery.

What causes spider veins?
Lots of everyday factors contribute to the problem. Some of the common causes are occupational, like standing or sitting for extended periods of time. Other causes can include hormonal imbalance, side effect of medication, rapid weight gain, pregnancy, or simply heredity.

What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to eliminate spider veins. Sclerotherapy involves an injection of a solution (generally a salt solution) directly into the vein. The solution collapses the vessel, and over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view.

Sclerotherapy is a well-proven procedure and has been in use since the 1930s.

How Will I Know if I am a Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
Prior to the procedure, you will have an initial consultation with our nurse who will advise you on your eligibility for sclerotherapy.

You are not eligible if you are pregnant or are bedridden. You can have sclerotherapy if you take birth control pills. If you have had a blood clot in the past, your eligibility will be decided on an individual basis, and will depend on the overall health of the area needing treatment as well as the reason for the clot.

How Is Sclerotherapy Done?
In most cases, the salt solution is injected through a very fine needle directly into the vein. At this point, you may experience a pinprick and slight burning. The procedure itself takes approximately 30 minutes. You should plan to wear shorts during the injection, and bring comfortable loose clothing should you need to change after the procedure.

The number of veins injected in one session varies, and depends on the size and location of the veins, as well as your general medical condition.

What You Need To Do Before the Procedure?
Prior to vein injection, you should avoid certain medications. Talk to us about all medicines (including over the counter drugs, herbs and dietary supplements) you are taking. No lotion should be applied to the legs before the procedure (tape will not stick).

We recommend avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen, or high dose Vitamin E , or other anti-inflammatory medications for 48-72 hours before sclerotherapy, unless otherwise approved by our nurse. Tylenol, however, should not affect this procedure.

Could Sclerotherapy Cause Any Side Effects?
You may experience certain side effects after sclerotherapy. There are milder effects, such as itching, which can last for one or two days after the procedure. Also, you may experience raised, red areas at the injection site, or blistering. These should disappear within a few days. Bruising may also occur around the injection side and can last several days or weeks.

Other side effects include:

• Brown lines or spots may appear at the vein site. These spots are temporary, but can last up to six months.
• Neovascularization the development of new, tiny blood vessels may occur at the site of sclerotherapy treatment. These tiny veins can appear days or weeks after the procedure, but should fade within three to twelve months without further treatment.

Should any of the following side effects occur, contact us immediately. These include:

• Inflammation within five inches of the groin
• A sudden onset of a swollen leg
• Formation of small ulcers at the injection site.

If you have any concerns or questions following this procedure, you should contact us.

What Happens After the Treatment?
After the treatment you will be able to drive yourself home and resume your regular daily activities. Walking is encouraged.

You will be instructed to wear support hosiery to "compress" the treated vessels. If you have compression hosiery from previous treatments, you are encouraged to bring them with you to be certain they still have adequate compression.

Following the injections, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, Vitamin E, or other blood thinners for at least 48 hours. Tylenol may be used if needed.

Also, you should avoid applying the following to the injected areas for 48 hours after treatment:

• Hot baths
• Hot compresses
• Whirlpools or saunas
• Direct exposure to sunlight

Showers are permitted, but the water should be cooler than usual. The injection sites may be washed with a mild soap and tepid water.

How Effective Is Sclerotherapy?
Studies have shown that as many as 50%-80% of injected veins may be eliminated with each session of sclerotherapy. Less than 10% of the people who have sclerotherapy do not respond to the injections at all. In these instances, different solutions can be tried. Although this procedure works for most patients, there are no guarantees for success.

In general, spider veins respond in three to six weeks. If the veins respond to the treatment, they will not reappear. However, new veins may appear at the same rate as before. If needed, you may return for injections.