What is Vein Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a series of micro-injections that is used to treat varicose veins, spider veins, and reticular veins. It is performed by injecting a saline solution into veins that have become damaged or diseased. Vein experts have used this technique to treat vein disease since the 1930s.
Since injection sclerotherapy was first developed and accepted as a safe and effective medical treatment, these treatments have been refined using the latest vascular treatment techniques. The development of ultrasonic venous exams in the 80s has allowed vascular surgeons and vein experts to effectively perform varicose vein removal and spider vein removal for millions of patients.
Sclerotherapy for
Spider Veins
Spider Veins
Because spider veins are tiny branches of discolored veins that appear near the surface of the skin, treatment is easy. There’s no need for local or general anesthesia during treatment, so recovery is also quite easy.
Spider vein sclerotherapy is performed by a doctor who uses tiny micro-needles to inject small amounts of sclerotherapy solution into the spider veins. The medication then causes the spider veins to become blocked off. With no blood flow reaching the tiny diseased veins, they will slowly shrink and be reabsorbed into the body.
After treatment, spider veins usually take about three to six weeks to fully disappear. Depending on your condition, you may need multiple treatments in order to experience total results. You should also know that it’s possible to see new spider veins pop up after the first ones have disappeared.
Varicose Vein Sclerotherapy Treatment
Because varicose veins are usually larger, knotted, and more twisted than spider veins, they require more medication for effective treatment. As a result, when you come in for treatment for varicose veins, a local anesthetic may be applied for your comfort.
During the procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort, cramping, or a short pinching sensation during the injection. However, these feelings usually subside after a few minutes.
In order to accurately target and close off the diseased veins, your doctor will use an ultrasound device to locate the center of the diseased vein. This process is repeated several times depending on the size and number of varicose veins that need to be treated.
After the treatment is complete, you will receive compression stockings to wear over the treated area for at least 48 hours. The compression stockings will help prevent bruising and will help the medication seal off the diseased veins.
Generally, you can expect larger varicose veins to disappear within a total of three or four months. However, you should see some improvement within a few weeks as the diseased vein walls begin to scar and break down. Compression stockings will also help reduce the risk of serious complications of varicose vein removal, like blood clotting.
Varicose Vein Sclerotherapy
Treatment
Treatment
Because varicose veins are usually larger, knotted, and more twisted than spider veins, they require more medication for effective treatment. As a result, when you come in for treatment for varicose veins, a local anesthetic may be applied for your comfort.
During the procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort, cramping, or a short pinching sensation during the injection. However, these feelings usually subside after a few minutes.
In order to accurately target and close off the diseased veins, your doctor will use an ultrasound device to locate the center of the diseased vein. This process is repeated several times depending on the size and number of varicose veins that need to be treated.
After the treatment is complete, you will receive compression stockings to wear over the treated area for at least 48 hours. The compression stockings will help prevent bruising and will help the medication seal off the diseased veins.
Generally, you can expect larger varicose veins to disappear within a total of three or four months. However, you should see some improvement within a few weeks as the diseased vein walls begin to scar and break down. Compression stockings will also help reduce the risk of serious complications of varicose vein removal, like blood clotting.
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Because spider veins are tiny branches of discolored veins that appear near the surface of the skin, treatment is easy. There’s no need for local or general anesthesia during spider vein removal, so recovery is also quite easy.
Spider vein sclerotherapy is performed by a doctor who uses tiny micro-needles to inject small amounts of sclerotherapy solution into the spider veins. The medication then causes the spider veins to become blocked off. With no blood flow reaching the tiny diseased veins, they will slowly shrink and be reabsorbed into the body.
After treatment, spider veins usually take about three to six weeks to fully disappear. Depending on your condition, you may need multiple treatments in order to experience total results. You should also know that it’s possible to see new spider veins pop up after the first ones have disappeared.
What to Avoid
After Sclerotherapy
After Sclerotherapy
In order to see the best results of sclerotherapy in Flint, MI, there are several things you should either avoid or keep in mind.
- Don’t take any OTC pain medications or anti-inflammatories like aspirin, naproxen sodium, or ibuprofen.
- Avoid hot baths, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, or any kind of heat exposure.
- Take showers with slightly cooler water temperatures.
- Wash the skin around the injection site with cool to warm water and mild cleaning soap.
- Don’t use any kind of heat compress around the treatment area.
- Stay out of the sun and don’t use a tanning bed for at least 48 hours after your treatment.
What Else Should I Know
About Sclerotherapy Aftercare?
About Sclerotherapy Aftercare?
A few things you should do during sclerotherapy recovery include:
- Avoid strenuous exercise for a few days
- Don’t fly on an airplane for at least a week after your treatment
- Remember to stand up and walk regularly to promote healthy circulation
Talk with your doctor to make sure you know which medications to avoid taking before and after your treatment, and how long you should wait before taking them again.
What Are The Side Effects of Sclerotherapy Treatment?
Sclerotherapy is a mild treatment with only a few minor side effects, but as with any medical procedure, there can be some serious side effects. As mentioned above, the most common side effects include:
- Bruising at the injection site
- Inflammation around the injection site
- Stinging pain during the injection
- Skin discoloration
- Swelling
All of these minor side effects can be either prevented or managed using the after-care instructions from your doctor. Compression stockings will also help you manage your side effects.
However, if you want to prevent skin discoloration, then you need to avoid sun exposure or tanning.
Some mild allergic reactions are normal responses to sclerotherapy, and they will usually fade in time. Generally, mild allergic reactions will cause rashes, inflammation, or itching.
However, if you notice any of the following side effects you should call your doctor immediately. These side effects are a sign of serious reactions to treatment.
- Inflammation within five inches of the groin
- Sudden swelling of the leg
- Small ulcers forming at the injection site
FAQs About Sclerotherapy in Flint, MI
FAQs About Sclerotherapy in
Flint, MI
Flint, MI
Is Sclerotherapy Safe?
Sclerotherapy treatment is safe, effective, and approved by the FDA for both spider vein removal and varicose vein removal.
How Much Does Sclerotherapy Cost?
The costs of sclerotherapy will depend on each patient. Each patient will require a different number of injections, for their individual conditions.
The sum total cost of sclerotherapy treatment will include the doctor’s fee. The cost of the compression stockings is additional.
Will My Insurance Cover the Cost of Sclerotherapy?
Many of the treatments we offer are considered medically necessary. Insurance providers are required to provide coverage for medically necessary treatments. However, spider vein treatments are not generally considered medically necessary, but instead are considered cosmetic procedures.
If your varicose veins make your day-to-day life difficult because of any of the following symptoms, then your insurance will most likely give you coverage.
- Tired, sore, and aching legs
- Leg cramps
- Skin discoloration around the diseased vein
- Skin ulcers developing from venous insufficiency (stasis ulcers)
- Throbbing leg pain
- Tired and heavy feelings in the legs
Schedule a Consultation for Sclerotherapy in Flint, MI
When you come into our office for vein sclerotherapy treatment in Flint or Lapeer, Michigan, one of our vein doctors will examine your veins to determine which ones will be best treated by sclerotherapy. Your health history will also be reviewed to ensure treatment does not put you at risk for any serious complications.
Visit Vein Solutions Flint to find out more about the solutions we offer to our patients.
Our board-certified vein doctors, surgeons, and support staff can help answer your questions, and recommend the best vein treatments for you.
