What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy treats varicose and spider veins. The minimally invasive outpatient procedure involves injecting a solution called a sclerosing agent into the damaged vein. The solution irritates the blood vessel wall, causing it to collapse. Over time, your body absorbs the collapsed vein, and it fades from view.
Who is a good candidate for sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy might be the right treatment for you if you have varicose veins or spider veins. Varicose veins are enlarged, discolored veins that can cause pain, cramping, and swelling. Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins. They usually only create cosmetic concerns.
The Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates team does a physical exam and reviews your medical history before recommending sclerotherapy. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, they’ll probably suggest you wait to undergo this procedure.
How effective is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy works well for most people, but individual results do vary. Generally, spider veins respond to treatment in 3-6 weeks and varicose veins in 3-4 months. Veins that respond to sclerotherapy don’t usually come back, but new spider and varicose veins can appear.
Depending on the number of veins being treated, it can take 1-3 sclerotherapy sessions to achieve the desired results. You should wait about six weeks between sessions.
What should I expect from a sclerotherapy treatment?
You should avoid shaving or applying lotion to the treatment area the day before your sclerotherapy procedure and afterward until the injection site heals.
Sclerotherapy is done in the Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates office. During the procedure, your dermatologist cleans the treatment area and injects the sclerosing agent with a fine needle. They often use ultrasound imaging to guide the needle to the specific treatment site.
After each treatment session, you should wear compression stockings or socks for a few days or weeks and walk or exercise to speed up your recovery. The treated veins can darken temporarily, but this fades over time.
Sclerotherapy injections are relatively pain-free. Side effects are rare but can include scarring, swelling, bruising, itching, and discoloration.
To learn more about sclerotherapy treatment of varicose veins, call Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates today or request an appointment online.
