Sclerotherapy: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re in your early to mid-twenties, enlarged leg veins are probably the last thing on your mind, but there’s a possibility you’ll be looking for adequate spider vein treatment in Reno NV by the time you hit your fifties. Fortunately today, surgery is not the only recourse available to individuals with spider veins, and treatment options like sclerotherapy have resulted in better results and convenience for patients.

Most people haven’t heard of it, but sclerotherapy has actually been around for more than a century. Contrary to poular misconception, the term spider vein removal in Virginia City is actually quite erroneous, as sclerotherapy does not actually remove a vein entirely.

Sclerotherapy employs the use of a solution that collapses a varicose vein, and is directly injected under the skin. Blood eventually reroutes around the collapsed vein, after which the latter is reabsorbed.

Veins treated via this method easily fade a few weeks following treatment, and skin smoothens right over the previous discoloration. Individuals may appreciate the full results after about a month, though this may depend on the severity of spider veins being treated. Individuals may need more than one Reno sclerotherapy session to completely rid themselves of spider veins.

Injection Procedure

Sclerotherapy is valued among doctors and patients alike for its convenience; one session can take as quickly as fifteen minutes to an hour, though the length of treatment may also depend on the number and length of varicose veins being treated. 

Patients scheduled for sclerotherapy are discouraged from taking medications like tetracycline or minocin, as these may stain the skin up to six to ten days before and after the procedure. Certain antibiotic medications are also contraindicated. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory medications are off-limits 48 hours before and after the procedure, as these may wreak havoc with the sclerosing solution used to collapse a spider vein. If you are currently on any of these aforementioned medications, it’s highly recommended that you inform your doctor.

Should the patient need any pain relief following the procedure, Tylenol is a safe alternative to anti-inflammatory medications. 

Side Effects

As with any medical procedure, sclerotherapy also involves a number of side effects, though these are relatively minor at best. Burning sensations, bruising and lump formation on the treated vein are normal at first and should disappear in a few days. Side effects will also significantly decrease as healing occurs.

Remember to avoid exposing the treated vein to any heat following sclerotherapy. Heat causes vasodilation, and may result in bleeding. Stay away from any hot baths or steam.

While most individuals don’t develop serious complications following a sclerotherapy session, it’s often best to know what to do in case they develop. Immediately contact your doctor if you develop an allergic reaction to the sclerosing agent used, especially because some types of reactions can occur well after exposure to the trigger. Ulcerations may also occur, though these may be surgically remedied. 

The most serious complication that one can acquire is deep vein thrombosis, where a clot forms and sticks to the walls of the vein. This is a potentially fatal complication, as the clot may travel along the bloodstream and end up in vital organs and cause either a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or a stroke. It’s a rare complication, usually involving the larger varicose veins.

Fortunately, sclerotherapy does not significantly hinder individuals from their normal routines following treatment, and extensive bed rest or drastic changes to diet are not necessary. In fact, you are highly encouraged to engage in physical activity to increase circulation, whilst wearing the necessary support or compression wraps on the treated areas. However, weight lifting, aerobics, and other similar activities should be avoided.

Individuals need to be adequately evaluated before being put through Reno sclerotherapy, as some may have cardiovascular conditions that may put them at risk. Dermatologists or specialists in this field will do a full evaluation before subjecting patients to the necessary spider vein treatment in Reno NV.

Should you not turn out to be a suitable candidate for sclerotherapy, your doctor might recommend other alternative procedures, such as laser resurfacing in Washoe City or intense pulsed light in Carson City.

It’s also important to keep in mind that spider vein removal in Virginia City is considered an elective procedure and will therefore not be covered by most insurances. 

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