Sclerotherapy is an effective minimally invasive treatment for varicose and spider veins. It is often considered the preferred treatment for small varicose veins.
A sclerotherapy treatment involves injecting a salt solution directly into the targeted vein. The solution causes the vein walls to swell, stick together and seal shut, stopping the flow of blood. As a result, the vein fades within a few weeks.
Treated veins tend to start fading after a few weeks, although for some, it may take a little bit longer (in upwards of a month or more) to see full results. In some cases, you may need several sclerotherapy treatments to reach the optimal result. You can expect to see results in three to six weeks for treatments of small varicose veins or spider veins. It may take three to four months for larger veins. As mentioned, it may take multiple treatments to attain the results you are wanting.
If you are currently pregnant or breast-feeding, strongly recommend that you hold off on having sclerotherapy treatments.
Temporary side effects
Side effects are mild, but they can occur. Some side effects that may occur at the site of the injection include:
- Bruising
- Raised red areas
- Small skin sores
- Darkened skin in the form of lines or spots
- Multiple tiny red blood vessels
These side effects usually go away within a few days to several weeks.
Recovery
After the procedure, it is important to walk around to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. A vast majority of our clients return to their normal activities on the same day.
Depending on your treatment, we may give you specific instructions to follow for recovery, including:
- Avoid sun exposure to the treated areas for two weeks after the procedure. The inflammation caused by the injections combined with sun exposure can lead to dark spots on your skin, especially if you already have a dark skin tone.
- Wear compression stockings to maintain compression on the treated veins.