An In-Depth Look at Sclerotherapy
Posted October 11, 2019 in Sclerotherapy
3 Min Read
Even though spider veins are not physically harmful or a sign of any underlying issue, many individuals are still dissatisfied with their presence.
Spider and varicose veins detract from the smoothness of your legs.
Women enjoying her vein-free legs after sclerotherapy treatment.
Sclerotherapy offers the non-surgical reduction of spider and varicose veins. This in-office treatment allows women and men the chance to see a permanent improvement in the appearance of their leg veins.
What Are Spider and Varicose Veins?
Spider veins are damaged veins that appear as small blue, purple, or red “webs” on the legs. Varicose veins are similar but tend to be thicker, deeper, and more noticeable. Varicose veins can become damaging if they cause swelling or circulation concerns.
Both conditions develop due to venous insufficiency, meaning that valves in the leg veins are not working efficiently.
Instead of the blood moving through the veins as it travels to the heart, the blood remains in the veins, causing swelling, bulging, and discoloration.
What Factors Contribute to Spider Veins?
Although spider and varicose veins tend to develop in women later in life, they can occur in men and women at any age.
Common contributing factors include:
- Family history: Close to 90 percent of individuals that have spider veins also have a relative that has them.
- Changes in hormones: Estrogen weakens the valves in the veins—this is why spider veins are more prevalent in women. Spider veins can also develop during hormonal shifts like puberty, menopause, or pregnancy.
- Pregnancy: Pregnancy causes more blood to be pumped through the body. This, combined with the increased weight of the baby, places additional stress on the valves.
- Weight: Any added pressure on the legs makes them more susceptible to spider veins. Excess weight contributes to this.
- Age: Much like a person’s skin and tissues weaken with age, so do their veins. The valves in the veins tend to lose strength over time.
- Sedentary lifestyles: Spider veins commonly occur in people who sit or stand for long periods, which can make it harder for the veins to pump blood back to the heart.
What Can Be Done About Spider Veins?
While some individuals turn to at-home remedies for spider veins, such as apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, tea tree or cypress oil, or antioxidant-rich diets, others want a more guaranteed solution.
Sclerotherapy is an injectable treatment that causes the permanent destruction of spider veins.
A patient undergoing sclerotherapy treatment to get rid of spider veins.
During this non-surgical procedure, a solution known as Asclera® is injected directly into the spider or varicose vein.
The solution causes the veins to swell, stick together, and collapse to become scar tissue, which the body then eliminates.
The blood that was trapped by the ill-functioning valve is naturally rerouted through healthy veins.
Sclerotherapy patients may experience mild pain during this procedure but can drive themselves home after treatment.
What Can I Expect After My Treatment?
Side effects after sclerotherapy are rare and usually temporary. These include bruising, swelling, and allergic reactions.
Compression garments or support hosiery are recommended to assist with circulation in the treated area and stimulate the healing response.
While some small veins disappear almost immediately, larger and more significant veins may take weeks or months to lessen.
By choosing a trained sclerotherapy provider like Reana Myers, PA-C, patients are assured a safe treatment with minimal risk of complications.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about sclerotherapy, or to find a sclerotherapy specialist near you, contact Careaga Plastic Surgery by calling (305) 960-7511 or by filling out our online contact form.