Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure involving injecting a chemical directly into the varicose or spider vein. It solves the patient's concern by causing the vein walls to swell, stick together, and seal shut, stopping the blood flow. But the concern that arises now is, Why would someone want to get the vein sclerotherapy treatment done?
Spider veins or Varicose veins may not be the most beautiful sight for many people, but it also causes severe physical pain in some cases. Though it may be uncomfortable to have them, everyone would want to avoid bulging veins and sleepless nights. Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons can guide and help these people out of their suffering by treating them with Sclerotherapy.
Suppose sleepless nights due to regular pain, discomfort, and lower self-confidence due to these spiders or varicose or bulging veins sounds similar to your situation. In that case, consider going for sclerotherapy procedures. The professional team of aesthetic and cosmetic surgeons is always there to help you and will guide you through what is the most suitable solution for your requirements.
Similar as their descriptions might sound, they are also equally different. They fall under the same category, but their origin and development differ. It is essential to understand the difference between the two because this difference defines the treatment path to be chosen.
These are small veins visible on the skin's surface. Typically red, blue, or purple, resembling a spider's web and present as a network of superficial vessels. This can be a cause of age, heredity, sun damage, hormonal fluctuations, trauma to the skin, or medical conditions.
These are bulging, flesh-colored vessels moving upwards from the lower leg. These are always due to Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) and can become symptomatic if left unnoticed for a long time. The common noticeable symptoms of varicose veins are leg heaviness or fatigue, swelling around the lower leg or foot, night cramping or restless leg syndrome, irritation or itching around the vessel, discoloration or thickening of the skin, and appearance of sores around the ankles, known as venous ulcers.
The solution to both is just one procedure, the sclerotherapy procedure.
As the time has passed by, the needs of patients have also varied. So, with time different types of sclerotherapy procedures have also evolved, and our professional team serves our patients with the best. The three major types of Sclerotherapy are:
○ Usually recommended for the minor spider vein treatment closest to the skin's surface.
○ The traditional form of Sclerotherapy uses a liquid solution, usually a saline agent, directly injected into the vein.
○ Usually recommended for more prominent spider veins and small varicose veins.
○ This uses a foaming agent instead of a liquid solution, displacing blood inside the vessel so the walls can seal together more efficiently.
○ Usually preferred for vessels beneath the skin's surface as ultrasound guidance helps pinpoint the vein's location for the injection.
○ This can be considered an advanced foam sclerotherapy technique, as the foam solution will easily be visible on the ultrasound, allowing a minimally invasive treatment that might otherwise require an invasive surgical procedure.
A person who starts the procedure with the right tone tends to have better results. Thus, it is essential to keep in mind the following tips for being prepared before the procedure begins:
● Vitamin E or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like Advil or aspirin should be avoided from 1 week before the scheduled date.
● Become best friends with your loose-fitting clothes that suit your veins best.
● Avoid moisturization. Your skin should be lotion-free before the initiation of the treatment.
● This procedure requires a sober and smoke-free patient. Thus, avoid consuming alcohol or nicotine before the procedures.
Understanding Sclerotherapy before and after the procedure is essential to get effective results.
A specialized and trained interventional radiologist or therapy expert injects the solution into the problematic vein using a fine needle or a sclerotherapy injection. The solution causes the vein to turn to scar tissue and get reabsorbed in the body. Healthy veins restore their normal blood flow. Ideally, the procedure takes 30-60 minutes to complete, but it is suggested to spare two hours to avoid inconvenience. In most cases, the patient achieves their desired results with minimal discomfort.
Though this procedure takes a small fraction of your day to be completed, it is essential to understand that drastic and immediate results of anything are a myth. It will not erase the traces of spider or varicose veins right after the completion of the procedure. The veins will be visible after the process and will start fading over three weeks to 6 months. Some patients may require more than one session to get their desired results.
Sclerotherapy procedures being a medical treatment, will have their pros and cons. But if we look at the benefits it provides its consumers, its cons are outweighed. The following benefits are the reasons for you to choose it:
● In this busy world, where everyone is running behind in growth and success, people overlook their medical conditions. This procedure saves time and solves the concern making it a win-win situation for you.
● Let the patient regain their self-confidence over time as the healing procedure starts.
● The recovery period doesn't have a specific timeline.
● Aftercare is variable from patient to patient. It doesn't specify any specific set of rules that might hinder the regular lifestyle of the patient.
● Since it is a minimally invasive procedure, there is next to negligible chance of scarring.
As important as it is to know the procedure's benefits, one must be aware of the side effects that may follow. The side effects are mild, ranging from ulcers, scarring, itching, or allergic reactions, which might last a few weeks after the procedure.
After the successful completion of the surgical procedure, a few tips from the doctor's guide to give you better outcomes will only be beneficial. The following tips can help get good results:
● Any strenuous activity, prolonged standing, or lifting more than 15 pounds must be avoided fortnightly.
● Tanning or direct sun exposure is suggested to be avoided for six weeks after the treatment as it may cause dark spots on the skin's surface.
● Compression stockings help support veins and promote blood flow when worn for a few weeks.
● Warm baths, sunbathing, hot tubs, and saunas are to be avoided for a week after the treatment as they may cause the blood vessels to dilate.
Proper following of these tips can be beneficial in you getting better results.
Some tips to help you take care of yourself after the successful completion of the procedure to ensure a speedy recovery. Here are some tips on what to avoid after Sclerotherapy:
It should be avoided as it may cause your skin to exfoliate, leading to severe skin irritations. It can also lead to clogged pores which can cause infections later.
Walking is permitted to the patients after treatment. Still, vigorous exercises should be avoided for a suitable period, as suggested by your doctor, as it will cause sweating, leading to skin irritation or infections in the worst case.
Any medical procedure may cause a mild amount of pain. But medications for this pain should be taken only after concerning with the doctor as some medicines may even cause excess bruising or bleeding.
Sclerotherapy procedures are subjective to the patient's need, determining the cost of an individual's treatment procedures. Sclerotherapy for spider veins or Sclerotherapy for varicose veins will select the choice of procedures resulting in the estimation of the patient's expenditures.
The sclerotherapy procedure can be your choice if you go through any of the above mentioned points. In case of doubts, our team would be glad to assist you.
Aesthetic and cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles provide you with the facility of sclerotherapy treatment after proper consultation with our experts. The team of well-experienced and specialty in the domain would guide you through your confusion and suggest you the best solution for your concern. Book your appointment now.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF
SURGEONS
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
COSMETIC SURGERY
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
