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Sclerotherapy is a common treatment for people who have painful or unsightly veins. It is a minimally invasive procedure that offers quick and lasting results, and it can work for varicose veins as well as spider veins. Learn more about sclerotherapy and explore whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.
How Sclerotherapy Works
Sclerotherapy targets varicose and spider veins, sealing them off so that they stop hurting and end up disappearing. This treatment option relies on a special solution that is injected directly into the targeted veins. By irritating the blood vessel, the solution causes its lining to expand and form a scar.
Sclerotherapy for spider veins doesn’t require anesthesia, but an anesthetic is generally used during sclerotherapy for larger varicose veins. The results can take a few weeks to emerge, but once the treated vein is gone, it won’t reappear.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
To benefit from sclerotherapy, you need to meet a few criteria. However, because the procedure is minimally invasive, sclerotherapy has fewer restrictions than more complex vein procedures.
You Are Bothered by the Vein’s Appearance
Varicose and spider veins can be a distressing aesthetic concern. If you cannot hide the veins or are tired of wearing pantyhose or other clothing to camouflage the vein’s appearance, you could be a good candidate for sclerotherapy.
You Experience Symptoms
Varicose and spider veins can cause uncomfortable symptoms like:
- Itchy or heavy feeling in your legs
- Burning or throbbing in the area
- Muscle cramping and swelling
- Changes in skin color around the vein
Although varicose veins and spider veins don’t pose a risk of causing or worsening cardiovascular issues, they can lead to severe aching that affects your quality of life.
You Are of the Right Age
The best candidates for sclerotherapy are between the ages of 30 and 60. While spider and varicose veins can develop in younger adults, treating them is typically more successful after age 30.
Although it is possible to treat spider and varicose veins after the age of 60, it is more difficult to reverse the appearance of the veins.
You Have Not Recently Been Pregnant
Pregnant women should not have this procedure. Additionally, if you have been pregnant or have given birth in the last three months, you may not be the best candidate. You will have to wait until your hormones have stabilized.
You Do Not Have Blood Clotting Problems
To be a good candidate for sclerotherapy, you must not have had blood clotting issues in the past. If you have had a stroke or take anticoagulants, you are not a good candidate.
Getting Sclerotherapy
We will assess the treatment area and get your full medical history to ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure. We will ask you to prepare for your appointment by avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory medications.
Stay out of the sun in the days leading up to the procedure.
If you are receiving treatment for a varicose vein, we will use a local anesthetic to help keep you comfortable. We can then inject the saline-based solution directly into the targeted vein. It irritates the walls of the veins and causes them to collapse. Your body will eventually absorb the treated veins.
Recovering from Sclerotherapy
You can return to most of your activities right after receiving sclerotherapy treatment. We’ll provide a compression garment for you to wear, and you should also keep the treated area out of the sun.
For at least one week, avoid strenuous exercise. However, you should walk and move around as much as you can. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods. Don’t use hot tubs or saunas.
You can expect to see results in a few weeks. Once the veins disappear, they will not come back.
Turn to Sclerotherapy Experts
At Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center, we offer varicose and spider vein treatments that can provide the results you are looking for. Our team of professionals is ready to guide you through deciding on the best procedure to eliminate these unsightly and sometimes painful veins.
Learn more about the services the experts at Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center offer by calling us today.
