Spider veins – those little red and dark blue veins that many individuals find on the backs of their legs and other parts of the body – are common, especially with age. For years, women have found themselves dealing with these unsightly veins, which can cause embarrassment, lack of self-confidence, and can interfere with wearing your favorite types of clothing. Luckily, you don’t have to continue to live with spider veins and varicose veins – there is a treatment that can help eliminate these veins safely and easily, giving you a boost of confidence without having to undergo painful surgical procedures.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a vein treatment procedure that has been developed and put to use to help reduce or eliminate the appearance of those red and blue spider veins on legs and other areas of the body.
This procedure is typically done in a doctor’s office and typically lasts between fifteen and forty-five minutes per session. While you will more than likely require more than one session, the procedure itself can have the veins disappearing in as little as two sessions. Most patients will need between 3 to 5 treatments sessions spaced 1 -2 weeks apart for optimum results.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosing solution, such as Asclera, into the affected veins, which can irritate them and cause them to collapse. This, of course, does not affect the main veins in the body in which blood is delivered throughout.
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that can make a big difference in the life of someone who is self-conscious about their spider veins and varicose veins and would like them visibly reduced.
Reasons Why Individuals Want Sclerotherapy
Every individual who suffers from spider veins has their own reason why they wish for these red and blue, swollen veins to be removed from their bodies. Most of the time, the lack of confidence due to these veins is the number one reason that many men and women seek out a spider vein doctor who can treat the veins, restore their self esteem, and feel better and more comfortable in their own skin than they did before the treatment. This treatment tends to be very successful among those who have received it.
While Sclerotherapy is not for everyone, it can eliminate the need for painful and intensive surgeries on spider veins in order to get them to disappear.
Locations Sclerotherapy Can Be Performed
Most people who look into Sclerotherapy are concerned about the spider veins on their legs – whether it be in the calves, behind the knees, or even on the thighs. However, those are not the only places that these veins can show up. These veins can also be found on the foot, the arms, and the hands.
How is Sclerotherapy Done?
Sclerotherapy is done by first disinfecting the area, and then injecting a medication, such as Asclera, into the spider veins via a tiny microneedle. The medication then causes the veins to collapse or clot, dissolving the vein. The blood is rerouted into a different, healthy vein. The veins are treated, one inch at a time, per session, and it may take a few sessions to remove them entirely. Each treatment can last anywhere from 15-45 minutes, depending on the amount of veins to be treated.
Is Anesthesia Needed for Sclerotherapy?
One of the benefits of Sclerotherapy is that it does not require general anesthesia, unlike complicated and invasive surgical procedures that can be used to remove spider veins. While most individuals are able to handle the procedure without any type of numbing creams, they can be provided if needed. This can help to make the procedure more comfortable for the patient.
What to Expect After Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy rarely has much, if any, downtime. In fact, this in-office procedure is generally safe, simple, and can be done in the morning or on a lunch break.
Many doctors recommend that you carry on with your activities as normal instead of being sedentary, as this reduces the chance of a blood clot forming in the treated area. Although, we do recommend returning to normal activities immediately post procedure. We do however, recommend no strenuous exercise for 2 weeks. We also recommend wearing a daily compression stocking for 2 weeks to help improve your results.
Risks of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a relatively safe vein treatment, and has been around for many years. While complications rarely arise, you should be on the lookout for anything that doesn’t seem quite right to you after your procedure. A few risks of Sclerotherapy include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Minor sores
- Changes to skin sensation
- Hyperpigmentation
- Development of new vein clusters
- Blood clots
Next Steps to Booking Your Appointment
If you would like to make an appointment for a consultation regarding Sclerotherapy, please call the office of Dr. Ghozland and we will be happy to assist you!
