It is very important that the person who decides to have spider veins treated understands the benefits and the limitations of the treatment. This is to prevent disappointment when the healing process seems prolonged or the results are less than ideal. The basic understanding we suggest is that the two stage treatment will clear about 2/3 of the visible veins in the average case. This means that half will be better than this, and half will not be that good. Recurrent treatments often are safe and are effective in clearing up residual veins. There are some individuals who continue to form veins and need to have interval treatments to maintain a satisfactory appearance in their legs.
The injections should not be expected to achieve immediate disappearance of the spiders on the day of treatment. This is because the method is based upon a controlled injury to the vein wall that causes the inner lining of the vein to dissolve. This is followed by an automatic healing process that causes the vein to ‘dry’ up, and time is required for healing to occur.
The vein ultimately becomes scar tissue and is an invisible part of the normal tissue under the skin. In some cases this happens within a few weeks; in others 3-18 months may be required before the final result is achieved. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict which persons will get an immediate or a delayed response.
After treatment, bluish bruising of the tissue occurs and requires 2-3 weeks to clear up. In the process of healing the blood cells in the tissue can leave traces of a brownish iron pigment called hemosiderin in the skin. This appears as a brownish streak that is usually more acceptable than the bluish vein color, but is not the desired cosmetic result. This brownish staining automatically clears over a variable period of time but it can take months to do so, and in occasional instances requires a year or two. It is very unusual for these spots to persist permanently.
Spider veins resemble cavities in the teeth because they tend to recur after intervals of time. It is important for those who decide to treat their spider veins to realize the chronic recurrent nature of this problem to avoid excessive disappointment if it happens to them. For these people there can be reassurance in the knowledge that recurrent treatments have been found to give good long-term control of the cosmetic problem in many instances.