Spider veins are tiny branching blood vessels right underneath the skin’s surface. Unlike varicose veins, which bulge from the skin like cords, spider veins are usually not painful. In a healthy vein, blood flows easily from the limb towards the heart. There are valves within our veins that prevent the backflow of blood. However, when a valve becomes weakened, the blood flows back into the veins and starts to pool. That causes enlarged, twisted, and discolored veins.
Here in this post, we’ll talk about sclerotherapy that is being used to treat spider veins.
What is sclerotherapy?
When spider veins become too bothersome, you can opt for a non-surgical method called sclerotherapy. In this procedure, a doctor injects chemicals known as sclerosing agents into damaged veins. The agent cuts off the flow of blood and causes the vessel to shrink.
Areas that sclerotherapy can treat
Spider veins can appear anywhere on the body, including the face and ankles, but the most affected areas are the legs and feet. These veins are red, purple, or blue in color. Sclerotherapy can treat spider veins in ankles, calves, thighs, feet, face (frequently the sides of the nose), and anus.
When to consider sclerotherapy
Your doctor would be the best person to decide if you need sclerotherapy or not. You may be advised to undergo sclerotherapy if:
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The legs are sore or feel heavy
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Patchy or dry skin appear on the legs or feet
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The veins are painful
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There is a rash near the veins
If you have concerns about the process, you can make an appointment with a vein specialist who can answer many of your questions.
Candidates for sclerotherapy
Your vascular medicine specialist will perform an examination and ask questions about your medical history. People who had blood clots in the past are not typically the best candidates for the therapy. A potential candidate should not be pregnant or breastfeeding within the past three months. Your eligibility will depend on the overall health of the area needing treatment.
What to do before sclerotherapy
Before the treatment, you may be advised to avoid certain medications, including aspirin, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, for 2-3 days. It is essential not to apply any lotion to your legs before the procedure.
How sclerotherapy is done
The procedure does not require anesthesia and is performed in the doctor’s office. Depending on the extent of the damaged veins, it takes 15 minutes to an hour to complete it. After cleaning the area with alcohol, the doctor uses a very fine needle to inject a salty solution into the vein. The patient may feel some cramps or minor stinging, but it goes away quickly. During the procedure, mild compression is applied to disperse the solution. The collapsed vein eventually fades.
About Ballentyne Medical Aesthetics
If you want to treat spider veins, Ballentyne Medical Aesthetics should be your one-stop destination. We have been helping Portsmouth residents since 2002 with non-surgical cosmetic skin therapies, including CoolSculpting, injectables, laser, and profound RF. Fill our new patient form to find out which laser skin lightening treatment works best for you.
You can call us at (603) 319-8432 or email at hello@ballentynemedicalaesthetics.com to know more.
