A comprehensive venous history and physical exam by a vascular surgeon.The first thing you should know about spider veinsis that results are not instantaneous. It takes time for the veins to disappear. In fact, it is common and very probable that your legs will look worse beforegetting better. Bruising at or near the injection site or along the course of the vein is common. This bruising can be black and blue marks, which eventually turn yellowish, or the bruising may be in the form of red marks. Small welts similar to mosquito bites may also occur at the injection sites. Do not worry about any of these, as they are quite normal.
If you have had treatment for large veins, the bruising can be quite severe and even located at a distance from the injection sites. Thisis normal and you should not be concerned. Mild discomfort is also common. Severe discomfort is not normal.
The bruising usually fades away in a week but could possibly, in some cases, take up to 2 weeks to fade. After the bruising goes away, youmay see considerable fading of the treated veins. In some cases, theveins may be completely gone. However, it can take up to 6-8 weeks for the veins to fade to the maximum amount. A treatment should not be considered unsuccessful unless there is no significant improvement after 8 weeks.
In some cases, there may indeed be no reaction orminimal improvement. Please keep in mind that no two patients or veins are alike. The choice of solution strength or Photoderm settings depends upon the size and location of the veins. The reaction of the vein cannot always be predicted with great accuracy. It is always possible to repeat the treatment in an area at a subsequent visit should your response not be satisfactory. In fact, most often by treating the veins gradually, you should obtain the ultimate result.
If you develop a painful lump, it is probably trapped blood and you should see us. The optimal time frame for that to happen would be 2-3 weeks after your injections. The blood is easily released from the vein and presents absolutely no health threat in the form of blood clots that travel. Trapped blood is also often present if the vein turns adarker color such as black or purple. It is to your advantage to have this blood released, as it will give you a better result. If you arefrom out of town and cannot easily get back to our office, we can provide you or your personal physician with proper instructions as to what needs to be done. Contact the office or have your physician contact us.
Sometimes the vein will feel hard or lumpy after it heals. This isespecially true when large veins have been treated. Sclerotherapy comes from the Greek work “sclero” which means hard. Large veins that were once bulging and visible can sometimes still be noticeablebut will appear smaller and will feel hard and rope-like under the skin surface.
Please keep your expectations realistic. If we did not think we could help you, we would not be treating you. Considerable improvement is easy to achieve. This is our goal and should be your expectation. Keep in mind that perfection is often difficult to achieve.