I understand that it's possible to develop NEW spider veins in time, but I'm wondering if the spider veins you already treated successfully will simply come back again (i.e. schlerotherapy isn't permanent and only "fades" the veins for a limited time)?
Treated veins are gone for good. The propensity to develop new ones always exists. In order to minimize this risk, all feeding reticular veins and their associated spider veins should be addressed.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Once a spider vein is successfully closed via sclerotherapy, it is usually closed forever. For a patient that has a genetic predisposition to these veins, new veins can occur/develop on a new or an old area. It is advised that the patient continue to do annual maintenance to catch new developing veins prior to getting worse. Spider veins are usually treated multiple times for successful closure and may not all go away at once with just a treatment alone.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It sometimes takes 2-3 sessions of sclerotherapy to make sure it is effective. The sclero does treat the vein. It breaks down the vein walls(protein). If there are other veins that need to be treated, those deeper varicose veins could lead to new spider veins.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You are correct in that "new" spider veins can always develop. However your original spiders should not come back if properly treated. Your body normally reabsorbs those veins that have been properly closed.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
In general the spider veins that seem to return are NEW veins.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
If you have spider veins you will always develop new ones over time. When they are treated properly, including their feeder veins, the treated veins do not return. If feeder veins are not recognized or treated, spider veins
will either return or resist treatment altogether. Feeder veins may be visible on the surface, and may require transillumination or duplex ultrasound.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Spider veins that are successfully sclerosed are essentially gone. Not all treated veins will resolve with one treatment. New spider veins will slowly appear over time because of the genetic or inherited nature of the disease.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Spider veins that are successfully treated should not recur. If they do, then underlying causes such as reflux should be evaluated via venous reflux ultrasound exam. Having said that, new spider veins will occasionally form over time and I tell patients that after adequate treatment, they should look at their veins in a year's time and do touch up treatments as necessary. Many patients with spider veins need to consider them as a lifelong problem and their treatment is essentially maintenance.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Sclerotherapy is not 100 percent guarantees expect 50-70 percent improvement with each round of treatment. Long term recurrence is common.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Generally speaking, sclerotherapy should be a permanent fix for the veins treated. Other veins may appear in the future. Also, one needs to be aware that other veins beneath the skin may feed the spider veins on the outside, so if you have had incomplete success or complete failure of sclereotherapy, consider asking for an ultrasound looking for leakiness in the veins before spending more money.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Spider veins come from somewhere. They are fed by other veins deeper in the reticular dermis or even deeper. These constitute a unit. The unit needs to be treated successfully to achieve long term clearing. Closing a vein 98 percent will not obtain success but 100 percent will, and often requires more follow up treatment sessions than just one visit.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
No. The spider veins that are eradicated by sclerotherapy will not come back. You are correct, however, it is possible to develop spider veins near the area where the old veins were located.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Successfully treated veins should not return. Sclerotherapy should permanently close the treated vein. Sclerotherapy is not a "fading treatment" for veins.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
New ones can appear, but once closed off with sclerotherapy or other vein treatment, the same vein does not usually come back unless there is a deeper feeding vein that was not closed.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It is important to evaluate for venous reflux, and if present, treat that first. The likelihood of recurrent spider veins if venous reflux is left untreated is higher than if venous reflux is addressed.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It will come back if you have reflux vein disease. In our center, all our patients get scanned before the physician diagnoses.
Published on Jul 11, 2012