Is sclerotherapy safe on blue veins on the face? (Photo)

Question

I have a green vein under my eye that I hate. I heard sclerotherapy is a great option for this so I had my first treatment 8 months ago. It didn’t work so Im now going to go back for a higher solution. I also want to get the veins on the side of my face treated cause they are noticeable. When I asked the doctor he said he could treat them but he’s concerned they could be arteries. Shouldn't he be able to tell if they are arteries or not? What would happen if he injects them and they are arteries?

Jennifer Reichel, MD · Answer

Treating larger veins on the face (temples, forehead, around eyes) with sclerotherapy is not a "common" procedure. However, I am using sclerotherapy on face veins in my practice, and find it to be 1. safe, and 2. effective. Make sure you go to a board certified, surgical/procedural MD with a lot of vein experience. And, make sure he/she has done facial veins. The procedure itself is pretty easy. I use hypertonic saline (better safety profile). It is tolerated, but can burn, and cause a sort of muscle ache while the solution is being injected. I believe that a pressure bandage for 12 to 24 hours after treatment is important. Finally, it will take more than one treatment. Space them at least 4 weeks apart.

Gabriel Goren, MD · Answer

First the picture is of law quality. As to your question,  YES, it is if you are in good hands. As to the small red veins on the cheeks, the best is laser treatment. Injecting into an artery catastrophic as it can cause skin necrosis resulting in an ugly scar.

John Landi, MD · Answer

Sclerotherapy should work well on the posted veins in your pictures.  It is crucial to ensure that the structures are veins and not arteries (the pictures look like veins to me).  Injecting an artery can impede the blood supply to certain areas of the face (although this is  unusual to happen since the face is very vascular).

Albert Malvehy, MD · Answer

if your doctor is telling you they might be arteries, what they are telling you is that they are not sure and you should not have treatment with that particular doctor. We treat this area routinely, but that does not make it routine. The anatomy is complex and, in the wrong hands, complications may occur at higher rates. Go to someone who has experience treating facial veins. We have people travel from all over the west coast to our office for treatment of the most complex leg, facial, breast, and hand veins. Good luck.

Is sclerotherapy safe on blue veins on the face? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: It is safe in the right hands

Answer: It is safe in the right hands

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Everything you need to know about Sclerotherapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Is sclerotherapy safe on blue veins on the face? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: It is safe in the right hands

Answer: It is safe in the right hands

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Sclerotherapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.