Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that involves injecting a sclerosing solution into the veins of the legs to target spider veins. It is a minimally invasive procedure, performed by a vascular specialist in about an hour and with minimal discomfort. Sclerotherapy eliminates the need for surgery or other more invasive procedures.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy comes from the word for “thickened” or “hard,” and this is what it does to the treated veins when injected by a venous specialist. The treatment causes the veins to harden, thicken, and collapse.
Venous specialists use this procedure for cosmetic reasons, such as the bothersome visual appearance of spider veins. They may also use it to treat uncomfortable symptoms like itching, burning, tingling, and pain that these veins can cause.
How Does Sclerotherapy Work?
The FDA-approved solution, which only targets the area where it is injected, causes irritation and scarring in the problem spider veins. This blocks blood from flowing through, and it will find healthier veins to travel through while the problem vein collapses. The body will reabsorb this vein over a few weeks.
You will need to wear compression stockings for about two weeks to keep pressure on the veins and make sure the treatment has time to redirect the blood flow. Your provider will encourage you to get up and walk around shortly after treatment and continue walking regularly to prevent blood clots.
You will usually be able to resume regular activities the same day but should avoid strenuous activities for two weeks. In addition, you should avoid sun exposure, as this can cause darkening of the skin in the treated area. You will usually see complete results within three to six weeks, although multiple treatments may be required for larger veins.
Is There Any Downtime with Sclerotherapy?
You will need to refrain from strenuous activity during the two weeks following surgery, during the time you will wear the compression stockings. You may notice bruising or red dots in the area as a result of the injection. These will fade quickly. You will be able to walk around and should do this daily to make sure you maintain good circulation through your legs.
Am I a Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
If you have spider veins that have not responded to other methods of treatment, sclerotherapy can provide excellent results that quickly relieve the discomfort from symptomatic veins. Whether you experience symptoms or want to be rid of unsightly veins that make you self-conscious, sclerotherapy is a low-risk procedure with minimal downtime and effective results.
Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about sclerotherapy, please fill out the form on this page or call (562) 997-1144. Laser Skin Care Center proudly serves the Long Beach, CA area and offers a variety of cosmetic dermatology services.
*Individual results may vary.
