Many patients wonder if their spider veins can be permanently removed. If you are ready to remove spider veins, you can find the services you need at Advanced Vein and Laser Center of York and Lancaster. With offices in both York and Lancaster, we offer Sclerotherapy – considered the gold standard in the treatment of spider veins. Like any medical treatment, results vary, but sclerotherapy does permanently remove most spider veins (it may take more than one treatment, however).

About Spider Veins

Spider veins get their name because they are small, fine varicose veins under the surface of the skin. They are typically dark in color – red, blue or purple – and look like small star bursts. These veins can be found on the legs but may also appear in places like the face, especially on the nose and cheeks. Unlike the larger, distended varicose veins in the legs, the tiny veins often have no symptoms. Occasionally they may cause burning or itching. Many people find them objectionable for cosmetic reasons, especially when they occur on the face, and people often seek treatment for that reason.

What’s Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy – also called traditional or injection sclerotherapy – is a very simple, minimally invasive office-based procedure that has been in use since the 1930s. An injection of a special solution into the vein irritates the vein walls, which swell and then collapse. The veins shrink and stick together, and as healing occurs, the vein is gradually absorbed into the surrounding tissue. At ALVC York and Lancaster, our doctors use an imaging system called the VeinViewer to make this procedure as easy and thorough as possible. Very small needles are inserted into each vein to inject the solution. Your treatment may require more than one injection, depending on the size and number of veins to be treated. Most patients feel nothing, but some report a minor stinging sensation.

Aftercare and Results

Once the procedure is complete, your legs will be wrapped with a special compression dressing or you may wear custom-fitted compression stockings. For small, fine veins, the compression treatment is necessary for about three to five days. Larger veins may require seven to 10 days. The compression keeps the vein collapsed so it will scar closed. You’ll have a follow-up appointment about two or three weeks later. Sometimes a small amount of blood becomes trapped under the skin and must be removed for optimum healing. In our experience, about 60 to 70 percent of the treated veins will disappear completely. In some cases, the vein does not respond to treatment (there’s no way to know ahead of time). Although you should not expect perfect results, it is reasonable to expect visible improvement after about four to eight weeks of healing. In most cases, treatment is permanent, although new vein “starbursts” can develop later.

Sclerotherapy is generally a good choice to permanently remove spider veins. Please contact us at ALVC York and Lancaster for an assessment or to schedule an appointment. We can also discuss financial options (your insurance may or may not cover treatment).