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Sclerotherapy is a treatment to reduce and eliminate spider veins and small to medium varicose veins. The procedure causes minimal or no discomfort, and is safe for all areas of the body including legs, feet, hands, arms, breast, and face. Sclerotherapy diminishes embarrassing spider veins and gives you the youthful, even skin tone you desire. |
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What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins aren't just an irritating side-effect of aging; they can emerge on someone as young as their 20s and make even the most confident person feel self-conscious. Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are tiny veins that constantly look dilated. Caused by weak vascular walls and inefficient circulation, spider veins cause no health problems but tend to look unappealing and cause embarrassment. Spider veins can sometimes resemble a spider: a large dark spot with thin veins radiating out of it, or they may appear in other patterns and variations. Both spider and varicose veins occur primarily in the legs, but spider veins can also be found on the face, arms, and breasts, and vary in color from light to darker shades of blue, purple, or red.
Heredity, childbirth, weight and pressure, age, and stress can all contribute to spider veins, abnormal or bulging veins, and other similar conditions. For some, these conditions are not only annoying, they can also lead to pain or chronic swelling.
How Does Sclerotherapy Work?
Sclerotherapy is a highly-regarded procedure that has been used since the 1930s for the removal and treatment of spider veins and varicose veins. A very fine needle is used to inject the veins with a sterile sclerosant solution which irritates the vessel's lining, making it become inflamed, harden, and eventually fade away completely. Blood circulation is carried out through healthier veins located deeper within the body, so the outward appearance and occasional pain associated with the problem veins is significantly reduced.
The result? The annoying veins diminish or disappear completely, and skin tone is restored to its more youthful state.
What You Can Expect
Sclerotherapy can dramatically improve the look of certain areas of your body. The procedure takes only 15-30 minutes, depending on the size and location of the treatment area. Prior to treatment, Dr. Cain will sterilize the area. He will then carefully inject the sclerosant into the veins and monitor the progress. Typically, one injection is administered for every inch of vein treated. The number of veins injected in one session varies, depending on the size and location of the veins.
Since the injection needle is so small, most patients feel little pain and don't require any anesthesia. After the treatment is completed, a bandage will be applied and you will be able to drive yourself home and resume your daily activities. It is important to walk regularly to encourage good circulation after you have had sclerotherapy. You should avoid strenuous activity for the initial days after treatment, and it is suggested that compression or support hose be worn for at least a few days.
Pain and discomfort from this procedure are usually minimal. You may experience mild swelling and stiffness, which passes within a few days and can be managed with pain medication such as Tylenol (NOT Ibuprofen). Dr. Cain will go over all of the side effects and treatment options with you at your consultation.
Want to learn more about a Sclerotherapy? Contact us at 713-468-8759, email us, or schedule your free consultation online.
