Botox vs. Sclerotherapy: Which Is Better for My Spider Veins?
Spider veins are small, bulging veins that appear on your legs, face, and other body parts in the form of thin lines, webs, and branches. These are mostly harmless but can be a reason for embarrassment.
Luckily, there are many effective treatment methods available that can get rid of these problematic veins. However, not every marketed treatment for spider veins is actually effective. For instance, a common misconception is the use of Botox to remove spider veins.
Here, we address this misconception, whether Botox can be used to treat spider veins, and other treatments like sclerotherapy.
Botox: What Is It?
Botox, which is short for botulinum toxin, is a medically safe treatment that is injected into your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. The botulinum toxin blocks certain chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract, thereby temporarily relaxing the facial muscles that cause wrinkles and fine lines.
Botox For Spider Veins
Although some clinics market Botox as a treatment method for spider veins, Botox is an effective treatment for spider veins, mainly because it doesn’t improve the blood flow in the veins. Also, Botox does not do anything to reroute blood flow to other healthy veins.
If you have medical symptoms of spider vein-like pain and discomfort, you won’t be able to find relief from those symptoms with Botox.
Sclerotherapy
Fortunately, effective and minimally invasive treatment for spider veins does exist – it is called sclerotherapy. This is a safe and effective procedure that involves the administration of a sclerosing agent, such as polidocanol or glycerin, into the vein to treat the diseased veins. The sclerosing agent constricts the diseased vein and closes it. Over time the treated vein fades away, its blood flow is rerouted, and your skin is back to normal without a vein in sight.
Sclerotherapy For Spider Veins
Sclerotherapy is a simple and highly effective way to treat spider veins. Sclerotherapy is an active and ongoing treatment plan that is performed every 1 to 3 years to completely eliminate spider veins.
This treatment is also customizable to the size of the spider veins. Liquid sclerosant is used for the smallest types of spider veins that are easily traceable, while foam sclerosant is used to treat larger veins located deeper in the legs. Ultrasound imaging technology can also be used to locate very small spider veins that are harder to see with the naked eye. In this way, sclerotherapy can be used to treat any and all spider veins.
Sclerotherapy in Kansas City
At Missouri Vein Specialists, our trusted and board-certified vein specialist, Dr. Scott Darling, offers sclerotherapy for spider and varicose veins. In addition, we offer endovenous ablation, microphlebectomy, vein laser treatment, and vein surgery for more advanced vein problems. With our wide range of treatments, Dr. Scott Darling can create a customized treatment plan for you and treat any vein problem you may have.
To make an appointment with Dr. Darling, call us today at (816) 792-3400, or use this secure appointment registration form. We look forward to helping you!
