Quan H.Nguyen: Sclerotherapy

Leg Vein Treatment

Spider veins are small, dilated red or blue blood vessels that appear mostly on the legs. They are not necessary to carry blood and can be quite unattractive. They are typically caused by poor blood circulation due to shifts in hormonal levels, years of prolonged periods of sitting, and childbirth.

Photos: Leg Vein Treatment

What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a simple procedure to remove spider veins, helping women to re-create younger, healthier looking legs. A sclerosing solution is injected into the vein through a micro-needle. This tiny needle generally causes very little pain. The sclerosing solution causes the vein to blanch (turn white), then gradually disappear. A typical treatment may last for 20 to 30 minutes and consists of multiple injections to cover as many spider veins as possible.

Will It Work On My Veins?
Prior to treatment, a consultation is required to determine if you are a candidate for Sclerotherapy. Generally, a test patch will be performed and the results evaluated prior to initiating treatment. Large dilated blood vessels called varicose veins may be raised above the skin surface. Although we do not treat these veins with sclerotherapy, they may occur along with spider veins.

How Many Treatments?
Complete correction of the treated area is not expected on the first treatment. In most cases, about 50-80% of the treated vessels will be gone for good. However, new veins may appear and additional treatments are generally required for optimum results. These treatments may be in three weeks intervals.

What Is Recovery Like?
You may be asked to wear a special dressing to keep pressure on the veins to reduce bruising. Bruises around the treated areas usually disappear after the first week. A tan or brownish pigment may persist for six to eight weeks when larger veins are involved. Walking is encouraged because it increases blood flow through the other veins, although you must refrain from vigorous activities for the first 24 hours.