Sclerotherapy is a popular treatment for spider veins and varicose veins, accounting forĀ more than 323,000 vein treatmentsĀ in 2018. The procedure is simple, safe, effective, and you can relax while having it done in the comfort of our office atĀ Vein Health ClinicsĀ ā all reasons why itās the preferred method for eliminating unsightly veins.
Letās take a quick look at the cause of spider and varicose veins and how sclerotherapy alleviates your symptoms and makes the veins disappear for good.
The difference between spider veins and varicose veins
Spider veins and varicose veins are caused by the same problem, but thereās a big difference between the two. Spider veins arise from tiny capillaries close to the surface of your skin. While spider veins have a big impact your appearance, they seldom cause symptoms. In some cases, however, they can be the first sign of anĀ underlying venous health concern.
Varicose veins are larger veins that develop in your legs. Theyāre extremely unattractive, as the veins become enlarged, twisted, and stick up above your skin. When they go untreated, varicose veins can cause complications such as superficial thrombophlebitis, inflammatory skin conditions, and venous stasis ulcers.
Varicose veins are also notorious for causing symptoms. They can be painful and make your legs feel achy. You may develop itchy skin, a burning sensation, muscle cramping, or leg swelling from varicose veins. But all of these symptoms go away after youāre treated with sclerotherapy.
How spider veins and varicose veins develop
Spider veinsĀ andĀ varicose veinsĀ develop when one-way valves in the veins fail to function. These valves keep blood flowing in one direction ā toward your heart ā a task thatās especially difficult in your legs, where they work against gravity forcing blood to move up your legs.
When the valves become weak or damaged, blood flows backward and gets stuck in the vein between the bad valve and the next healthy valve. As a result, that segment of the vein becomes engorged with blood, causing varicose and spider veins.
As varicose veins develop in your legs, blood flow is obstructed, and some blood doesnāt make it back to your heart. Thatās a condition calledĀ chronic venous insufficiency. Once venous insufficiency occurs, the problem continues to build.
The vein continues to collect blood, expanding the blood vessel and creating significant pressure in the vein or veins below the damaged valve. Before long, the healthy valve that was stopping blood from continuing down the vein becomes damaged by the stretching and pressure. This allows blood to go further down the vein until it reaches the next healthy valve, then it accumulates again, creating another segment in your varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy permanently eliminates spider and varicose veins
SclerotherapyĀ achieves exceptional results using an amazingly simple procedure. We only need to inject a sclerosing agent into the vein. A sclerosing agent is a type of medication that immediately closes the vein by damaging the vein wall.
After the vein collapses, two important things happen. First, your body restores normal blood flow by automatically rerouting the blood to a healthy vein. And second, the treated area turns into scar tissue. Over the next few weeks or months, your body naturally clears away the scar tissue, permanently eliminating your unsightly veins.
What to expect during sclerotherapy
During yourĀ sclerotherapy procedure, we clean the skin around the targeted area and inject the sclerosing medication using a fine needle. If your varicose veins are large or deep under your skin, we administer a local anesthetic and use ultrasound to see the vein and guide the needle.
You may feel slight cramping as the medication is injected, but you shouldnāt experience pain, especially not when youāre in our capable and skilled hands. Youāll be up and moving shortly after your sclerotherapy procedure. Youāll need to wear compression stockings and avoid strenuous activities for about two weeks. Otherwise, you can get back to your normal daily routine.
Are you ready to get rid of your spider veins and varicose veins?Ā Call one of our Florida officesĀ orĀ schedule an appointment onlineĀ to learn more about sclerotherapy.