It can be hard to feel confident in the way you look when you’re suffering from spider veins and varicose veins. Thankfully, sclerotherapy can be used to get rid of both. At North Texas Vein & Vascular in Flower Mound, TX, our board-certified physicians have the skill to relieve you of the pain and embarrassment that these disordered veins can cause. This non-surgical treatment is effective and efficient.
How Sclerotherapy Can Help
Reduces Vein Visibility
Sclerotherapy’s main benefit is in reducing the visibility of any kind of disordered vein, from spider veins to varicose veins. This treatment can reduce their visibility, and in the case of spider veins especially, often completely eliminate their appearance. Most people want to get rid of these veins because they don’t like the blue and purplish twists that are so visible on their legs, and this treatment is an effective answer.
Spider Veins vs. Varicose Veins
Sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably, but actually, they aren’t quite the same thing. Spider veins tend to have a web-like appearance (from which they derive their name), and that’s because they typically affect smaller veins. These veins tend to appear in clusters just under the skin.
Varicose veins are larger, and they appear twisted and knobby. They’re easier to see from a distance, have a bumpy, protruding texture, and are more likely to cause pain than spider veins.
Reduces Vein Pain
Speaking of pain, varicose veins can cause it: but sclerotherapy can help. Even if you don’t have any cosmetic concerns about your varicose veins, these large, disordered veins can cause pain, itching, and aching. A bad varicose vein in the upper leg can even cause discomfort in other areas, like the feet. Sclerotherapy can relieve this pain by getting rid of the disordered vein entirely.
Not all of these veins cause pain, of course, but for some people, this can be a significant issue. It’s not entirely clear why some of these veins cause so much discomfort, but inflammation is one possible explanation. It is also possible that the unnatural way the disorder twists the vein could cause pain for some people. Some people only have pain in these veins during the night.
The Benefits of Sclerotherapy
Safe and Non-Invasive
This non-surgical treatment is safe and effective. This is considered a less risky treatment than others, like laser vein ablation, which can cause blood clots. Sclerotherapy simply involves a small injection of a special chemical, which collapses the disordered vein. The vein closes off, and the body directs blood flow to other, healthier veins. The body’s own lymphatic system then removes the disordered vein naturally.
The needle we use to administer the treatment substance is very small, and with a little numbing cream, the injection is entirely painless.
Fast
Vein surgery and laser vein ablation can be time-consuming, not least because it takes time for sedatives and anesthesia to take effect and more time for them to wear off after the surgery. If you don’t want to go through all that, or if for some reason you’re not eligible for surgery, this treatment is the perfect choice. It takes just about 15 to 30 minutes on average, depending on how many veins you’re having treated.
Easy To Prepare For
It doesn’t take much to prepare for this simple treatment. There are just a few simple guidelines to follow, and we’ll let you know about all of them when you come for a consultation. We’ll give you the guidelines you need, but in general, you’ll just need to do the following:
- Avoid applying lotion to the skin
- Shave your legs 24 hours before treatment
- Wear loose clothing to your appointment
Easy To Recover From
“Recovery” is almost too big a word to describe this treatment. Most people can go right back to the majority of their regular routine after treatment, including caring for children, work, running errands and caring for a home, and even light exercise. There are just a few things you’ll need to do for the first week after treatment:
- Avoid any strenuous workouts
- Keep away from anything that causes excess heat, like saunas and steam rooms
- Wear compression garments if directed
Very Successful
Between 80% and 90% of people have an entirely successful outcome from this vein surgery and achieve all of their goals. This high level of success is another key reason that people prefer sclerotherapy to other treatments for disordered veins, which often have lower success rates.
Gain Confidence and Freedom
Many people suffer a serious loss of confidence knowing that their legs have visibly disordered veins. These veins can make it difficult to wear short skirts, shorts, or bathing wear, and this can result in a life that feels full of restriction.
One of the nicest benefits of this treatment is the way it increased confidence. Those who get rid of their spider and varicose veins feel freer; able to wear whatever they like, whenever they want, without self-consciousness or the need to prepare extensively for outings in warm weather.
FAQ About Disordered Veins and Sclerotherapy
1. What Causes These Veins to Develop?
Science is not entirely sure why these veins develop, though we certainly know what they are. Every human body contains both arteries and veins, and while arteries have their own muscles to ensure nutrient-rich blood moves from the heart to all the tissues, veins (which carry the “used” blood back to the heart) rely on gravity and the other muscles of the body to do their work.
Veins contain valves that close off to keep blood from flowing backward, but sometimes these veins stop working properly. When that happens, blood can succumb to the pull of gravity and drop back down, pooling as it hits the next, working valve in the system. This especially happens when the vein walls are damaged or weakened for other reasons.
Why do the valves stop working properly or vein walls become weak? There are a number of potential reasons:
Genetic Issues
If you have a close relative with varicose or spider veins, your chances of developing these vein disorders are much higher. No one has yet found the genetic link, but there does seem to be one.
Sex
Women are much more likely to develop these veins than men, and, again, we’re not completely sure why this is. Hormones may be a factor, and this theory is bolstered by the reality that women who are pregnant are more likely to develop these veins during pregnancy and some women experience minor varicose vein development during their menstrual cycles.
Weight
Being overweight increases your risk of developing disordered veins, and this could also be part of the reason pregnant women are more likely to develop them. It seems that excess weight puts more strain on the veins, particularly those in the legs.
2. Will Veins Go Away on Their Own?
In most cases, there’s no way for these veins to go away on their own. In some cases, it can be possible to prevent them from getting worse, but they don’t just disappear without help.
3. Can I Prevent These Veins From Developing?
It’s very hard to prevent these veins from forming, particularly if you have a genetic predisposition to them, become pregnant, or have a job that requires you to sit or stand still for long periods at a time. However, there are a few things you can do that may help:
Manage Your Weight
Keeping within a healthy weight for your sex and height is one of the best ways to keep these veins from developing or to stop them from getting any worse.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise, and particularly muscle building and light cardio, can help your chances of developing these veins. Light cardio, like walking, is very good for the circulatory system and can keep things moving, particularly if you have a sedentary job or one where you spend all your time standing in one place. Meanwhile, strengthening the muscles in your core and legs with weights can give a boost to the veins as they do their job.
Eat Well
A healthy diet helps your body in every way, including supporting your veins and circulatory system in general. Staying well-hydrated will help, as well.
Keeps Your Legs Up
Spend some time every day with your legs elevated. This will help your blood to flow more freely and stop it from pooling in your legs. Throughout the day, alternate between standing and sitting whenever you can.
Get Rid of Disordered Veins With Sclerotherapy
Are you ready to be rid of those veins that interfere with your confidence and ability to wear whatever you want? This treatment can help. Come talk to us at North Texas Vein & Vascular in Flower Mound, TX today.
