Can sclerotherapy be used for spider veins on the face? i have had spider veins on my face for a number of years. i would love to able to look in the mirror and not see them anymore. do physicians ever use sclerotherapy to get rid of these veins?

I : I have done sclerotherapy on the nose and cheeks a few times with mixed results. I agree that a vascular laser such as the v-beam pulsed dye laser tends to work better (before and after pic below).

Sure . . . sometimes: "spider veins" on the face are called telangiectasias, and larger veins can also be unsightly. Sclerotherapy works well when the vessel is cannulated by the tiny needle accurately, but this is much harder and requires more expertise (and 1 or 2 tries) to hit the vessel. A laser can also work well, and requires less expertise, but may cause scabbing and scarring. Sclero's main risk is bruising.

It : It has been done, however the preferred method is to use a vascular directed laser therapy.

Sclerotherapy : Sclerotherapy can be used on the face but carries the risk of stroke, blindness and skin slough with scarring. Laser treatments are safe and effective and are the gold standard for treating those veins. 595 nm flashlamp pulse dye laser, long pulse alexandrite or nd:yag lasers are used. Chose a dermatologist with the correct lasers and experience.

Yes they do: There are a number of ways to treat spider veins on the face. These include sclerotherapy, cutanous lasers and rf photo/thermocoagulation. All of them work well in the hands of those who are experienced in using the different techniques. As dr. Herbich said, choose a practitioner with the correct experience and, as long as you are relying on their experience and expertise, it should work well.

Yes.: Spider veins on the face can certainly be treated by sclerotherapy. I do this frequently. In order to do this well, the treatment requires special lights, magnification and very small micro needles. Sclerotherapy on the facial veins should be done by someone with experience treating veins in this area.

Yes, : Yes, but not commonly. For spider veins on the face, the most common treatment is a pulsed dye laser (or other equivalent laser). The laser works by targeting the red blood cells in the vessels and helps shrink the veins. Sclerotherapy is usually used for leg veins, but some dermatologists will selectively use it on some of the larger vessels on the face (but not typically for the smaller vessels).

Absolutely: Sclerotherapy is often very useful in treating spider veins on the face. I would recommend seeing a vein specialist (phlebologist) and let them give you a recommendation.

Yes.: Spider veins on the face can certainly be treated by sclerotherapy. I do this frequently. In order to do this well, the treatment requires special lights, magnification and very small micro needles. Sclerotherapy on the facial veins should be done by someone with experience treating veins in this area.