Varicose and Spider Veins are unsightly blood vessels on the skin’s surface. Most patients seek treatment for these venous conditions due to their unattractive nature. Moreover, varicose and spider veins can cause aching and swelling on the skin interfering with patients’ well-being. Fortunately, sclerotherapy Tallahassee is a potential treatment approach that addresses these venous concerns restoring vascular structure and function.
What are varicose veins?
Veins have a wider tube compared to arteries. This width makes blood flow slower. The valves in your veins prevent the backflow of blood. However, weak and damaged veins cause blood to leak back into your legs. The veins in your legs start swelling and becoming varicose.
Spider veins also develop due to valve malfunction. The main causes of spider veins include sun exposure, injuries, and hormone changes.
Sclerotherapy 101
Sclerotherapy is a treatment to remove damaged veins by injecting a solution directly into them. This solution stimulates the swelling and sealing of veins. Over time, the damaged veins fade, leaving healthy veins to transport blood from the legs to the heart.
How to prepare for your sclerotherapy appointment
An initial consultation is significant to determine the treatment’s appropriateness in resolving your venous problems. Discuss your cosmetic goals with your doctor to determine whether sclerotherapy is the best approach to achieve your desired outcomes would be best. Your doctor will also review your medical history to appreciate previous surgeries, present and past injuries, medications, and nutritional supplements that might interfere with the treatment’s efficacy.
Once your doctor approves your candidacy for the procedure, the last step is giving your consent. After you decide to undergo sclerotherapy, your doctor will recommend specific guidelines for you to follow before the procedure. You may need to stop current medications to ensure they do not therefore with your treatment and recovery. You may need to buy compression stockings before your treatment because you will need them during recovery.
What to expect during sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is an in-office procedure that does not involve the use of anesthesia. The length of your treatment will depend on the number of veins you need to treat. Depending on its size, your doctor may need to inject a vein more than once. Cleansing the treatment area before inserting a needle is critical to eliminate the risk of infection. Upon inserting sclerotherapy solution into affected veins, your venous walls will swell and stick together before sealing shut and stopping blood flow. It will take several weeks for the veins to fade away completely.
After injecting the sclerotherapy solution, your doctor will compress and massage the treatment area to prevent blood from going through the injected veins. Compression also helps to disperse the injected solution. Your doctor may place a compression pad on the treatment area for additional pressure during recovery.
During recovery, you must walk to prevent blood clots from forming. Avoiding sun exposure will prevent dark spots from forming on your skin. Contact Tallahassee Vein & Face Clinic to learn more about sclerotherapy, and its efficacy in treating your unsightly veins.
