Treat Your Spider Veins with Center for Vein in Anchorage, Alaska

Contrary to what you may have heard, there is no at-home treatment for vein issues, such as spider veins and varicose veins. The only way to remove any unsightly and potentially uncomfortable veins is to seek a professional vein specialist.

Spider Veins are Easy to Treat with Sclerotherapy

When you meet with a vein specialist, you'll likely learn about the myriad of treatments and procedures that can be administered to successfully treat vein issues, and one of the most popular of these is sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is ideal for treating small and medium-sized spider veins and varicose veins and is known for being minimally invasive, relatively painless and highly effective. In this post, we'll discuss how sclerotherapy works, why it's so effective and more. Read on to learn about this popular treatment option.

How Sclerotherapy Works

As we noted, sclerotherapy is one of the most effective and easiest ways to treat small to medium-sized spider veins and varicose veins. In this section, we'll take a closer look at how the minimally invasive procedure works. Here's a look:

• After cleaning the area, a vein doctor will begin the treatment by injecting a chemical or foam solution directly into the veins. The chemical solution is often injected to treat smaller veins, while the foam solution is used to treat larger veins.
• As a result of the injection, the vein will scar and close over the next several weeks, and blood flow will be re-routed to other, healthy veins.
• Sometimes, just one injection works to completely resolve vein issues. Other times, vein specialists may have to perform multiple injections over time to completely remove veins. Follow-up appointments are scheduled in the weeks and months following the procedure to monitor progress and assess whether additional treatment is necessary.

Does Sclerotherapy Hurt?

Typically, the only thing that patients feel when sclerotherapy is administered is the slight pinch or sting of a needle as the doctor is injecting either the chemical or foam solution into the vein. It's a procedure that is administered without anesthesia and generally rather painless. However, your level of discomfort during the procedure will depend on how many injections are being administered. For instance, those with small spider veins or varicose veins may only need one or two injections into the vein. Those with larger veins may need more injections. The needle used is often very fine and thin.

Patients are able to resume normal activities immediately following the procedure, though doctors do advise avoiding any strenuous activity for a couple of weeks. You'll like also be required to wear compression stockings until at least your first post-op appointment.

It's also worth noting that following the procedure, bruising and swelling in the treated areas of the legs is a common side effect. However, these — and any other side effects — typically subside in as little as a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help relieve post-op swelling or discomfort.

Will it Remove my Spider Veins Permanently?

Will sclerotherapy remove spider veins? Yes, it's a permanent fix for any existing spider veins, however, it's important to reinforce a few points. One, depending on the size of the veins being treated and how your body reacts to the injections, you may need more injections to completely remove existing veins. And two, just because sclerotherapy is able to successfully remove any existing veins does not mean that more spider veins won't develop in the future. It's why it's important to enact some lifestyle changes, such as eating right and exercising more, to prevent future veins from forming.

Book a Consultation with Our Vein Clinic in Anchorage, Alaska

Contact us today to meet Dr. Ives in Anchorage, AK, and to view our varicose vein treatment options. As leading vein specialists, we'll carefully assess your situation and advise the best way to treat your veins, which may include sclerotherapy. Contact us today for more information.