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If you have varicose or spider veins, you may be thinking about ways to address these pesky skin lesions before beach weather arrives.
Sclerotherapy is a simple procedure performed to rid patients of varicose and spider veins.
What Causes Varicose or Spider Veins?
Varicose veins refer to twisted and enlarged veins that commonly occur in the legs. They appear here because standing and walking increase venous pressure in the lower body.
Effects of varicose and spider veins range from simple cosmetic concerns to significant pain, sometimes leading to serious circulatory problems.
Your arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When blood is returned to the heart by the veins, those in your legs must work against gravity.
The muscles in your lower legs produce contractions that act as pumps, pushing the blood back to your heart. Small valves in your veins help propel the blood upward and prevent it from flowing backward.
When these valves become weak or damaged, this action can fail, leading blood to pool in the vein, stretching and twisting them.
Varicose veins are easy to recognize as they are purple or dark blue and bulge into the skin’s surface. Varicose veins may be accompanied by a heavy or achy feeling in your legs. More severe cases may include muscle cramping, throbbing or burning pain, and swelling in your lower legs.
Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins and are usually red or blue and appear closer to the skin’s surface. These typically occur on the legs but are sometimes found on the face. They get their name because they look similar to a spider’s web.
How Does Sclerotherapy Treat Varicose and Spider Veins?
Sclerotherapy is performed by an aesthetician or surgeon as an outpatient procedure. The procedure obliterates varicose veins and spider veins by injecting a saline solution directly into the blood vessel to irritate the lining and cause the blood inside to clot.
In time, the damaged vein becomes scar tissue and fades away.
How to Prepare for Sclerotherapy
Talk to your provider about all the medicines you are taking, including antibiotics, OTC drugs, and supplements. Legs should be clean and lotion-free in preparation for the procedure.
Your doctor may ask you to avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory drugs for up to 72 hours prior to sclerotherapy. TYENOL® is generally allowed.
Sclerotherapy After-Care
It is highly recommended to stay off your feet most of the time for a few days after the procedure.
What Are Potential Side Effects of Sclerotherapy?
Mild side effects may include itching, minor inflammation, and redness at the injection site for a couple of days after treatment. You may also experience bruising in the area that can last several days or weeks.
Additional Sclerotherapy Side Effects Include:
- Large veins that have been treated may become lumpy or hard and may take several months to dissipate.
- Brown lines or spots may also develop but typically disappear within six months but may last longer.
- The development of tiny, new blood vessels (neovascularization) may occur at the injection site but should fade within twelve months, often much sooner, without any treatment.
Are You a Good Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
A consultation with a qualified doctor, such as a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or vascular specialist, will determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
You cannot receive this treatment if you are pregnant. If you have a history of blood clots, your candidacy will depend on the condition of the area to be treated and the reason for the past clotting.
Veins that may be usable for a future heart bypass procedure are usually not eligible for sclerotherapy unless they are already too damaged to be used for that kind of surgery.
Are You Interested in Learning More About Sclerotherapy?
Have more questions about receiving treatment for spider veins in Miami? Dr. Hochstein and his medspa team offer sclerotherapy, and our staff is happy to answer your questions.
Contact us at (305) 931-3338 or fill out our online form to schedule your consultation.