Curious about using sclerotherapy on your spider or varicose veins but unsure of what's involved in the process itself? Questions may include its duration, level of discomfort during treatment, and necessary post-procedure care tips for achieving great results.
What Happens During the Injection
First, your doctor will have you lie down on your back with your legs slightly elevated. After cleansing the treatment area, they'll use a very fine needle to inject the sclerosing solution directly into the targeted veins.
You may feel some mild discomfort, like a burning or cramping sensation, during the injections. But don't worry - it's usually well-tolerated and subsides quickly. The number of injections you'll need depends on how many veins are being treated.
The whole procedure typically takes less than an hour. Afterward, your doctor will massage the treated areas to help disperse the solution and keep it in the injected veins. They may also have you put on compression stockings right away.
Aftercare Rules and Recovery Time
Immediately after the procedure, you'll be able to get up and walk around. In fact, walking is encouraged to prevent blood clots and promote circulation. You can return to most normal activities right away, but you'll want to avoid strenuous exercise for a few days.
Make sure to follow these additional essential aftercare steps:
- Wearing your compression stockings or support hose as directed, usually for about 2 weeks. This helps maintain pressure on the treated veins.
- Avoiding hot baths, hot compresses, whirlpools, saunas, and direct exposure to sunlight for 1-2 weeks. Heat can cause the veins to dilate and delay healing.
- Keeping the injection sites clean by washing with mild soap and lukewarm water.
- Avoiding anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen for 48 hours to minimize bruising. Acetaminophen is okay for any discomfort.
- Scheduling a follow-up visit with your doctor within 2 weeks to assess your results and determine if additional treatments are needed.
Most people can resume all their usual activities within a day or two. But it's important to give your body time to heal and respond to the treatment. You should start to see improvements in the appearance of your veins within a few weeks, with full results in a few months.
While sclerotherapy is generally safe, there are potential side effects like bruising, redness, and darkened skin at the injection sites. These usually resolve on their own. More serious complications, like allergic reactions or blood clots, are rare but can occur.
If you have any concerning symptoms or your veins don't seem to be responding after several weeks, don't hesitate to contact your doctor. With proper technique and aftercare, sclerotherapy can effectively eliminate those unwanted spider and varicose veins, restoring smoother, clearer skin.
Key Takeaway:
Erase spider veins and say goodbye to aching, throbbing legs with sclerotherapy - a minimally invasive treatment that eliminates damaged veins by irritating the inner lining, causing it to swell, stick together, and the blood to clot, eventually turning into scar tissue that fades from view.
