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Sclerotherapy and Spider Vein Treatment
Spider veins and varicose veins on the legs are common problems as we get older. A combination of years of sun exposure and reduced ability for blood to return to your heart from your feet causes veins to dilate and bulge. Because we are fighting the effects of gravity and pressure, simple laser treatment isn’t sufficient to zap away the unsightly veins. We actually have to treat them from the inside out.
Sclerotherapy has been used for decades to treat spider and varicose veins. Physicians at Dermatology Affiliates who treat veins use either highly concentrated saline or a detergent called Sotradecol® which we inject into the problem veins with a tiny needle. The result is the disappearance of those veins within 2 to 3 weeks.
We do require a consultation appointment to evaluate your veins, discuss the procedure and review all of your medications and supplements. Some of those medications, such as aspirin, will need to be discontinued 1 week prior to treatment unless it is medically necessary.
If you are a good candidate for sclerotherapy, we prescribe compression stockings that we ask you to bring to the treatment appointment. You will need to wear these stockings following sclerotherapy in order to prevent the veins from reopening. Depending on the treatment area, these may be thigh high or waist high. It is an essential part of the treatment to maximize success.
If your veins are large and associated with pain or swelling in your legs, you may need a more invasive treatment. We refer patients to vascular specialists for evaluation and treatment of those larger leg veins.
If you are interested in this procedure, schedule an appointment with Dr. Burger, Dr. Erickson, Dr. Taliaferro or Dr. Abbott to see if sclerotherapy is right for you.
