Sclerotherapy: Is This Treatment Right For You?

Varicose veins and spider veins are unsightly and can cause other problems in the legs. Twisted, swollen veins just under the skin in the legs are caused by damage to the vein valves and walls. Blood pressure increasing in the veins leads to this condition. Women and men can suffer from varicose veins, and some common causes include obesity, aging, and pregnancy.

Treatment for varicose veins ranges from lifestyle changes and wearing compression socks to surgery. For those looking for non-surgical options, sclerotherapy treatment and lifestyle changes are good choices.

Sclerotherapy Treatment

Sclerotherapy is non-surgical but does require injections. The doctor injects medication directly into the blood vessels to make them shrink. These injections treat both spider veins and varicose veins.

The patient can experience the following side effects:

• Stinging
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Discolored skin
• Red, raised areas at the injection site

The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes and does cause some cramping at the injection site for a couple of minutes. Injection into larger veins may cause an increase in discomfort.

Sclerotherapy Effectiveness

The procedure is effective in treating varicose and spider veins. It works because the injected salt solution causes veins to scar, and this forces blood to reroute and flow through healthier veins.

It does take several months to see the complete results. Most patients notice an improvement in their veins after the first treatment, but the best results appear after three to four months for larger veins.

It is possible that the veins will look worse before you notice improvement, and this is normal. Any discoloration from the treatment disappears in about a month.

Self-Care After Treatment

Once your veins look better, it's best to start a self-care plan to help prevent varicose and spider veins in the future. There are a few things you can do to help keep your veins healthy.

• Regular exercise
• Avoid tight clothes
• Lose excess weight
• Avoid being sedentary
• Avoid prolonged standing
• Elevate your legs

Compression stockings are a good treatment if you want to help your leg muscles move blood efficiently. These work by continually squeezing the legs.

In some cases, varicose veins cause pain and swelling. Other troubling symptoms include achy legs at the end of the day or after physical activity. If this occurs, you should call your doctor to make sure your symptoms are not caused by an underlying health issue.

If you have questions about sclerotherapy, consult a doctor wh offers sclerotherapy service to answer your concerns and discuss treatment.