Here's What Happens With Sclerotherapy for Varicose and Spider Veins

Summer is here. For most people, that means a summer wardrobe of sporty shorts and sundresses and even fun trips to the beach or lounging poolside with friends and family. Although these images conjure up positive thoughts for most people, for the women who have varicose or spider veins — and it’s estimated that’s half of all American women — not so much.

 Unsightly, embarrassing varicose and spider veins take a toll on those who spend all year long covering up their legs regardless of the temperature outside. Our highly skilled team at Cardio Metabolic Institute wants you to regain your confidence by finally getting rid of those knotty, bruised-looking varicose and spider veins.

Here, we give you the scoop on sclerotherapy for varicose and spider vein treatment so you can look and feel great. But we have to warn you that there’s a definite side effect: You won’t be able to resist buying a new trendy summer wardrobe.

About your veins

Let’s start with the critical role healthy veins play. When your leg veins are in tip-top condition, they perform the all-important job of delivering blood back to your heart against gravity. One-way valves inside your veins keep the blood flowing in the right direction.

But when veins become weak or damaged, the valves don’t close properly and blood flows backward and gets trapped. The result is visible: spider or varicose veins.

As their name suggests, spider veins look like a spider web and appear closer to the skin. Varicose veins typically appear more knotty and bulging, and they’re often accompanied by pain, throbbing, or an achy feeling.

For those who have a vein disorder, the distinction between the two conditions is a moot point. All you really want to know is how to get rid of them. That’s where sclerotherapy comes in.

Proven, safe, in-office procedure 

Sclerotherapy treatment is no fad. In fact, it’s been a go-to medical treatment for varicose and spider veins since the 1930s. A tried and true track record is a great plus, but the fact that it’s an outpatient treatment we perform in our comfortable office makes it a win-win!

Sclerotherapy is a three-step process, and you lie down during the procedure. It starts with your provider cleansing the treatment area. Your provider then injects your affected veins with a chemical solution or irritant. The needle we use is small, but you may feel a slight pinch followed by minor cramping for the first few minutes. 

For the last step, your provider massages the treatment area after withdrawing the needle to make sure the solution is evenly distributed.

Treatment takes 60 minutes or less

The good news is that a typical sclerotherapy session is completed in about an hour. In the next several weeks after your sclerotherapy treatment, the chemical agent works its magic.

The solution irritates the lining of the vein where it was injected, causing it to collapse. Blood flows to a new healthy vein, and your body reabsorbs the collapsed vein. You can say goodbye to ugly, embarrassing varicose and spider veins and hello again to healthy, beautiful legs.

No surgery; no downtime

Another major benefit of sclerotherapy is that it’s minimally invasive. Because it’s not a surgical procedure, you don’t need anesthesia. Although you can resume normal activities, you should avoid vigorous exercise for about two weeks after your treatment.

During your recovery period, you need to wear compression stockings as well. Depending on your treatment plan and the severity of your varicose or spider veins, your provider may recommend several treatment sessions.

If you’re ready to make a splash this summer and want to learn more about sclerotherapy, make an appointment at Cardio Metabolic Institute in Somerset, Monroe Township, or East Brunswick, New Jersey. For an appointment at the office nearest you, click or call today.