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There are two treatments for spider veins, sclerotherapy and Laser or IPL™ (intense pulsed light) ablation. Many patients require a combination of both treatments for the best result.
 Drs. Ellis and Huffman use an FDA-approved solution called Sotradecol® for sclerotherapy. This agent is injected into the spider vein through a small needle, causing the vein to seal shut. Once the vein is sealed, blood flows into healthier veins. The treated vein is absorbed and eventually becomes nearly invisible or disappears altogether. Sotradecol® gives much better results and is far less painful than the traditional hypertonic saline injections.
 Laser and broad band light treatment of spider veins is accomplished using the Sciton Profile Laser System, the Dornier 940nm diode laser or the Lumenis Quantum Intense Pulsed Light™ system. These laser and light systems produce highly vein-specific wavelengths, which safely pass through the skin and seal the targeted vessels. The Lumenis Quantum IPL™ system is used to treat very fine spider veins on the legs, chest and face.
Definition of Spider Veins
 Spider veins appear as red or purple thread-like structures on the skin surface, and can occur on the face, neck, chest and legs. In the legs they can be found alone or in combination with varicose veins. They are not a health risk alone, but are often a cosmetic concern.
Spider veins are generally an inherited condition occuring when small capillaires dilate on the surface of the skin. There are larger veins called reticular or "feeder" veins that are the source for spider veins. Spider veins can worsen during times of hormonal shifts (ie; pregnancy or menopause) and with injury (ie; trauma or standing/sitting for long periods).
Treatment of Spider Veins
Asheville Vein Center and Medical Spa uses state of the art technology and research to treat spider veins. We use both laser therapy and sclerotherapy. During your consultation, you will be given recommendations tailored to your specific condition which may include one or both of these treatments.
Common Questions
What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is treatment for veins in which a sclerosing solution is injected into the veins causing them to seal shut. Sotradecol® is the primary solution used at the Asheville Vein Center and is the only FDA approved sclerosing agent in the US. The solution is injected into both the feeder veins and the spider veins.
How is Sotradecol different from hypertonic saline treatment?
To achieve the best results when treating spider veins; the "feeder" or reticular veins that have created the spider veins must be sclerosed in addition to treating the spider veins that you see on the skin's surface. Sotradecol® is used at a slightly stronger concentration to seal the larger feeder veins. Hypertonic saline generally becomes too diluted and is not able to seal these larger veins that cause spider veins.
What are the complications of sclerotherapy?
The most common complication is a minor skin irritation or itching at the injection site from the sclerosing agent. As with any injection, there is always a risk of infection or allergic reaction which are both extremely rare. Hyperpigmentation or staining of the skin called hemosiderin staining can occor but goes away without further treatment. Rarely skin ulceration may occur with sclerotherapy.
What is Hemosiderin staining or hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation occurs after sclerotherapy due to the blood pigment being trapped under the skin. The pigment change is subtle to dark depending on a person's skin type and natural tendendency toward staining. The pigmented area looks like a sun spot or liver spot over the area being treated. If you have large spider or feeder veins or concentrated clusters of spider veins close to the surface of the skin, you may get a darkening of the skin over those veins being treated. Most hyperpigmentation fades over time, ususally within 2-3 months but may take longer for dark staining (up to a year or more). Asheville Vein Center determines a client's skin type and tendency to hyperpigment during your consultation. Our treatment recommendations will take into account your specific skin type. We take every precaution to minimize staining.
Is there anything I can do to prevent hyperpigmentation?
To decrease your risk of hyperpigmentation, you need to stay out of the sun for 6 weeks prior to sclerotherapy and 4 weeks after treatment. This keeps the pigment producing cells, that are naturally in your skin, dormant. Wear a physical sunblock that blocks UVA and UVB rays (Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide). Keep in mind that clothing provides only about 5-8 SPF. If you are going to be outside for an extended period of time, wear sunscreen underneath your clothing.
What happens to the sclerosed "feeder" veins? Don't I need those veins?
You have hundreds of healthy veins in your legs that have already taken over the functions of the unhealthy veins that we sclerose. We treat only the veins that have dilated and are creating spider veins or are painful. These dilated veins are not functioning properly and are actually refluxing or flowing in the wrong direction.
Your body absorbs the sclerosed "feeder" veins just as it would a bruise. The sclerosing of these veins causes them to clot or seal shut. These clots are superficial and are not dangerous to you although they may become tender and lumpy under the skin as they are being absorbed.
Will my spider veins come back?
It is natural during the course of treatment for some "new" spider veins to grow. Don't be discouraged, for some individuals this is an inevitable part of the treatment process. We treat them with sclerotherapy and IPL or laser therapy.
Since we focus on eliminiating the "feeder veins" later recurrences of spider veins are minimized. Some individuals may need occasional "touch up" treatments 2-5 years after completion of their initial sclerotherapy.
How many treatments does it take for my spider veins to go away?
Spider vein treatment is a process. Spider veins do not appear overnight and they do not go away overnight unfortunately. The average person needs between 3-6, 30 minute treatments to get the cosmetic results you desire. Treatments can be scheduled as soon as 3 weeks apart. We recommend 3-6 weeks between treatments.
Meet Our Sclerotherapists
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Sue Maggart, RN |
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Joan Vassey, RN, BSN |
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