Have you shied away from showing your legs since varicose or spider veins appeared in your life? Both of these conditions can cause a loss of confidence about baring skin. Spider veins form when a blood vessel is slightly damaged and begins to produce smaller, feeder veins at the spot where constriction occurs.
At MD Beauty Labs, our practice of eliminating spider veins through sclerotherapy results in a significant decrease in the visual appearance of these small vessels. If you are concerned about visible redness caused by excess blood near the surface of your skin, sclerotherapy may be the answer.
How Sclerotherapy Works
The veins near the skin are rather tiny, but they have very strong walls to withstand the pressure of blood flow. The only way to remove these veins is through a surgical procedure or by stopping the blood from flowing through them. The latter is accomplished by sclerotherapy.
A saline solution is injected directly into the spider vein. This causes the vein walls to stick together, forming a tight, constricted space. The blood flows very slowly through the constriction and eventually clots. The vein becomes scar tissue after a time and is eventually flushed from the body.
About the Procedure
We consult with our patients and discuss the options for removal of spider veins and larger varicose veins. If the injection procedure is chosen, we outline the treatment schedule and ask about any medical conditions the patient may have. Prior to having sclerotherapy performed, it may be advised that individuals refrain from any strenuous aerobic exercises for several days leading up to the treatment.
A very thin needle is inserted directly into the spider vein. The patient may feel a bit of stinging or a warm sensation in the area where the needle is inserted. The salt solution is injected into the vein. Over the next 20 minutes or so, the blood vessel softens and the vessel walls stick together. This stops the blood flow through the vessel and allows a clot to form.
After the Treatment
Our patients can resume their normal activities immediately. We encourage the wearing of support hosiery to help compress the veins near the skin. Direct exposure to sunlight, the taking of aspirin, and warming of the skin by taking hot baths may need to be avoided for several days.
In most cases, a single treatment session will cause the blood vessels to deteriorate. There is no danger of infection because the body’s natural defense systems will kick in and break down the blood vessel tissue. Over the next week or two, the scar tissue will begin to fade, and eventually it disappears.
Are You a Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
If you are in good health and have no severe skin or subdermal tissue allergic reactions to saline solutions, you may want to consider sclerotherapy. If blood clots have previously formed in the area where the spider veins are located, you may still be eligible. Contact MD Beauty Labs today and schedule a consultation so you can get all the facts on this simple, non-invasive, corrective procedure. Whether it’s sclerotherapy, skin rejuvenation, body sculpting or any number of services we offer, we are dedicated to helping patients get their desired look.