Cosmetic Treatment
Sclerotherapy for Spider and Varicose Veins
There are three different types of veins running through your body but when the valves and walls of these veins become thin and damaged, blood flow is affected. As blood begins to pool in your veins, they will dilate and spider and varicose veins will start to form. Many people seek sclerotherapy for varicose vein treatment because they do not like their appearance.
Some of the most common causes of spider and varicose veins include genetics, sun exposure, hormonal changes, weight fluctuations or activities that require prolonged periods of standing and sitting.
Spider veins can occur on both the face and the legs, while varicose veins are more commonly found on the legs. When left untreated, these veins can really start to affect your self-confidence and in some cases, varicose veins can even lead to complications such as swelling, pain, bruising and even ulceration.
Fortunately, sclerotherapy sessions at Clinica Lase make it possible to safely and effectively reduce the appearance of spider and varicose veins, leaving you with a renewed sense of confidence.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is designed to treat veins that don’t necessarily affect your health or require surgery.
To stop blood from flowing into the vein, a sclerosing agent is injected into the veins, which causes inflammation and irritation. As a result of this effect, the vein walls stick together, blood stops flowing through it and your body naturally absorbs the vein after several weeks.
While sclerotherapy works really well on spider and small reticular veins, larger varicose veins can also be treated if a catheter and ultrasound are used.
What to Expect During a Sclerotherapy Session
During your free consultation at Clinica Lase, your legs and veins will be examined and your medical history will be reviewed to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for this procedure.
If you decide to go ahead with sclerotherapy, the area that will be treated will first be cleaned and prepped. An illuminating device will then be used to illuminate your skin, which will allow your doctor to find even the smallest of veins. Using a very small needle, the sclerosing agent will be injected into the spider or varicose veins, as well as the feeder veins, to completely eradicate them.
Depending on the size of the area that needs to be treated, the average procedure will last anything from 10 to 30 minutes.
How Long before I see Results?
The results of your sclerotherapy session will not be immediate but you should start seeing a noticeable difference 6 – 8 weeks after your treatment. Some patients may also require more than one treatment to achieve their desired result, which means final results will only be seen after several months. In most cases, patients can expect to see at least a 70% reduction in the appearance of unsightly veins.
Is Sclerotherapy Painful?
Patients may experience cramping or burning after the vein has been injected but this only lasts for a few seconds, making the pain tolerable for most. Always speak up if the pain becomes too much to handle during your session.
Sclerotherapy Risks & Side Effects
Sclerotherapy has been around for a good number of years and is very safe. Patients might experience swelling, redness, bruising and tenderness after their session at Clinica Lase but these side effects are both moderate and temporary.
Brown pigmentation is also possible but this will also dissipate over the course of a few months. If you would prefer to speed up the process, there is the option of using an IPL laser treatment to reduce the appearance of pigmentation.
Preparing for Varicose Vein Treatment
To make your sclerotherapy session as comfortable, here are a few guidelines that you can follow:
- Wear shorts, loose-fitting long pants or a skirt to your session
- Do not shave your legs on the day of your treatment to avoid bleeding and burning during your session
- Refrain from applying any moisturisers to your skin on the day of your treatment
- Avoid tanning for at least 2 weeks before your session
- Certain medications and supplements will need to be stopped 1 week before your session. Your doctor will provide you with a list of these products during your free consultation at Clinica Lase
Sclerotherapy Aftercare Guidelines
To ensure the best possible results after your sclerotherapy session, here are a few guidelines that you can follow:
- Avoid hot baths and swimming for at least 2 days after your treatment
- Refrain from engaging in any strenuous exercises or heavy lifting for a few days
- Don’t shave your legs for 2 – 3 days after your session
- Use a broad spectrum SPF to protect your legs from UV rays
- Walk for at least 30 – 45 minutes every day for several weeks
- Patients should ideally not schedule any air travel for 2 weeks after their treatment