Visual Sclerotherapy
What is Visual Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is used to address surface level spider veins and small varicose veins. This procedure is a popular method to treat these issues because it is effective, safe, and requires only a very small needle to complete. During a sclerotherapy treatment, our Houston spider vein expert will use a very slender needle to inject a pharmaceutical agent into a problematic vein. This agent irritates the vein walls, causing them to seal shut. Over time, the spider veins fade from sight as they are absorbed into the body and the blood is redirected naturally to flow through other healthier veins. This leaves you with clearer, better looking legs.
Who is a Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
As we age, our skin tissue loses fat and volume. This can cause the veins near the surface of the skin to become more obvious. Certain people, especially those with fair skin, develop prominent blue veins visible beneath the skin of the legs or breasts. While many patients are bothered by the appearance of prominent veins on areas such as the leg or breasts, the problem may not be only cosmetic. Once your provider rules out any serious causes of leg veins, a spider vein removal treatment at our Houston, TX office is safe, fast, and successful.
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What to Expect
We perform sclerotherapy treatment in the doctor’s office, and it typically takes only about 30 minutes. Some patients require only a single session of sclerotherapy to completely the issue, while others may require multiple sessions.
Because sclerotherapy is minimally invasive, there is no need for general anesthesia. Instead, you’ll be awake and comfortable from beginning to end. During the procedure, you’ll lie back with your legs slightly elevated. After the area is cleaned, your provider will use a very slender needle to inject the solution into the problematic vein. Most patients feel very little to no discomfort at all throughout this procedure. Sclerotherapy allows Houston spider vein doctors to treat more than one vein at the same time. However, there is a limit to how many veins can be addressed in a session. When you consult with your provider before your treatment, they will advise you on how many treatment sessions will be necessary to completely eliminate your spider veins.
After the Procedure
You’ll have a chance to rest for a few minutes after your procedure. Most patients are able to return to their daily activities immediately afterwards, but we do caution everyone to avoid strenuous activities for two weeks. We also encourage sclerotherapy patients to wear compression stockings for two weeks after their procedure to ensure optimal outcomes. Most of our patients see visible improvement in their spider and small varicose veins in three to six weeks. It is recommended that patients continue moving and walking as much as possible to allow for proper blood flow. There should be no scarring after the procedure, but it is not unusual to feel hard tender knots on the skin surface (with some redness) since it is a sign of the vein closing.
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Sclerotherapy for Hand Veins
Prominent veins can make the hands look substantially older. Over the years, the skin loses some of its elasticity and volume. This can result in the appearance of lumpy, unattractive veins at the skin’s surface. Areas like the hands which receive a great deal of sun exposure, tend to show these signs of damage more quickly than other parts of the body.
These bulging veins that are noticeable near the surface of the skin are not necessary to the circulatory system. Veins deeper within the hand are sufficient to transport blood to and from the area. Therefore, if surface hand veins are cosmetically bothersome, it is quite safe to treat them with sclerotherapy or volume enhancers.
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