Sclerotherapy, or ‘injection therapy’, is the most common treatment for spider and varicose veins on the legs. Facial, breast, and hand veins may also be treated with sclerotherapy. During treatment, a mild chemical solution is injected into the incompetent vein or capillary. The sclerosing agent irritates the walls of the vessel, causing it to collapse. The body then absorbs the vein and blood is re-routed to a healthy vein, restoring proper venous circulation in the area.
A single sclerotherapy treatment session involves multiple injections. Following injections, the leg is wrapped with an elastic bandage for several hours to help keep the vein closed. Normal daily activities can commence immediately after treatment, although compression stockings may need to be worn for 1-3 days after the procedure, depending on the vein size.
