Cosmetic
Sclerotherapy
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat spider veins. A solution, known as a sclerosing solution, is injected with a very fine needle into the blood vessel.
What is a spider vein?
Spider Veins are dilated small blood vessels that have a red or bluish color. They appear mostly on the legs, occasionally on the face or elsewhere and affect women more often than men. They can be short, unconnected lines each about the size of a large hair or connected in a scraggly, “sunburst” pattern. They may also look like a spider web or a tree with branches. Sometimes, they occur in a small area and are not very noticeable, or they can cover a large area and be quite unattractive.
How long do treatments take?
Depending on the size of the area being treated, the treatments usually last from 15 to 45 minutes.
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How successful is Sclerotherapy?
After several treatments, patients can expect a 50 to 90 percent improvement. After each treatment, the veins should appear lighter. It is unrealistic to believe, though, that every affected vein will disappear completely as a result of the treatment. It will only affect those veins treated and does not prevent new veins from appearing. Nevertheless, most patients are pleased with the difference Sclerotherapy makes. The difference can be dramatic and boost a person’s self confidence.
What is treatment like?
This is a relatively simple procedure that requires no anesthesia and is done in our office. Using very tiny needles, the solution is injected into the affected veins. Because the needles are so thin and the solution is mild, pain is usually minimal.
What about recovery time?
You may have to wear support hose for several days and may experience some temporary cramping in your legs.
Where should I go for my Sclerotherapy treatments?
We recommend going to a board-certified Dermatologist with experience in using Sclerotherapy to reduce spider veins.
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