St. Petersburg Spider Vein Removal

Sclerotherapy is used to treat spider veins, which are small blue/red veins that twist and turn and look like spider legs. They are dried-out capillaries that typically result from venous insufficiency, which occurs when the one-way valves in the circulatory system are damaged or weakened. They can also be caused by hormonal imbalances, too much exposure to sunlight, and minor trauma. Spider veins are visible through the skin – like varicose veins, only smaller and milder.

What Is Spider Vein Treatment (Sclerotherapy)?

spider vein removal

Sclerotherapy involves using a very fine-gauge needle to inject a special solution into the spider vein. Once injected, the “sclerosing” solution causes irritation and scarring in the capillary, which subsequently results in the blood being sent to larger surrounding blood vessels. The collapsed spider vein gets reabsorbed into local tissues, and then fades away completely over time.

Depending on various individual factors, some patients may need more than one sclerotherapy treatment to achieve optimal results. After treatment, most spider veins fade fully within 2-3 weeks. However, some patients require a month or more to see full results. The small needle used causes very little discomfort, but lidocaine is available for patients who are especially sensitive.

Sclerotherapy treatments are safe when administered appropriately by a trained expert. You can expect some bruising, swelling, aching, and redness after the procedure. Spider vein treatment is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Anne Hermann, MD at Hermann Aesthetics & Wellness in Saint Petersburg offers STS (sotradecol) injections, which are the gold standard of sclerotherapy agents today. Be careful about spider vein treatments that involve outdated hypertonic saline solutions, as they cause significant pain and are more likely to cause adverse side effects.

Contact the professionals at Hermann Aesthetics & Wellness today at (727) 278-3992 to schedule a complimentary appointment to determine your candidacy for this safe and effective procedure. Each session takes between 15-30 minutes. Most patients require 3 separate sessions, each about 5 weeks after the previous.