Sclerotherapy is the injection of a scarring solution, such as hypertonic saline (high concentration salt solution) to irritate and ultimately close off--by inducing scarring--the lining of unwanted blood vessels, such as "spider veins." These vessels, which may arise from genetics, pregnancies, overweight, and jobs that require prolonged standing, are superfluous, i.e they do not supply either nutrition or oxygen to the skin and are simply cosmetically unwanted. Larger vessels, such as varicose veins, may also be treated in this fashion.For decades. sclerotherapy for spider veins and varicose veins of the legs was the treatment of choice. Even today, laser enthusiasts still have to concede that sclerotherapy remains the gold standard for the smaller spider veins.I have been performing sclerotherapy for spider veins for over thirty years, and my experience, which is corroborated by consensual experience, is that the most common adverse reactions for treating the spider veins are minor and consist of occasional slight burning or cramping during treatment and sometimes soreness, redness and bruising for a few days afterward and rarely prolonged skin discoloration, These are all typically minor and do not impact in any way on the long term aesthetic benefits of treatment. Larger vessels, of course, are more likely to engender more of these unwanted adverse reactions, as well as severe inflammation of the vessel, phlebitis, which may be what occurred in the case of the woman described.Gratifying results typically require a series of two to four treatment sessions per site spaced at monthly intervals. Naturally, it is important to seek treatment and consultation by a board certified aesthetic core physician with extensive experience and expertise in performing sclerotherapy. And be sure to see his/her befores or afters.