Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy was originally devised to treat the legs, but it can also be used on veins in the chest, arms, back and even on the face.
Sclerotherapy involves repeated injections of a proprietary solution into the veins. The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel, causing it to swell and stick together. Over time, what remains of the vein is absorbed into the body.
Satisfactory results are seen with a few treatments in some cases, to several treatments in others. How many treatments you need depends on the severity of the condition. Within a few weeks after commencement of treatment, the veins begin to disappear. Full results may take up to several months, however.
During the transition time, there may be reddish blotches or patches of pigmentation or discoloration. Complications are rare. Most of the discoloration will disappear within 12 months following the procedure.
Laser Vein Therapy
Sclerotherapy
2 days before your scheduled treatment avoid any of the following:
Do not apply any creams, lotions, oils, or self-tanning lotions to your legs.
Laser Vein Therapy
With laser vein therapy, the treated areas may turn red to dark purple. This may last for several days. Here are some recommendations to speed up healing.
When to call the clinic
If a blister or crust develops, you should call the clinic. In these cases, an antibiotic ointment will be applied to the area.
Use a sunscreen
Sunscreens with at least an SPF 30 should be worn daily to protect the skin for the next two weeks. Direct sunlight on the skin should be avoided until the pink discoloration of the skin has completely healed and the skin has returned to its normal color.
Laser Vein Therapy
With today’s advancements in laser technology, there are very few side effects. Sometimes, redness or swelling can appear after treatment. A cool compress or gel pack may be applied and any redness or swelling should disappear within a few hours.
Sclerotherapy
You may experience itching or raised, red areas or bruising at the injection site. This should disappear in a few days. Brown lines or spots may also appear at the injection site, which usually resolve after a few months. Larger injected veins may become lumpy or hard for several months before resolving.
You may want to take a day off from work on the day you have your sclerotherapy treatment so that you can keep your legs elevated. It’s okay to return to work the next day. Exercise should be limited for a week to 10 days due to the necessity of wearing the compression stockings.
Spider veins are a common development from sun damage and from aging – or some people are genetically disposed to them.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of spider veins or varicose veins on your legs, you may be a suitable candidate for the laser treatment of veins procedure. Before you undergo any sort of cosmetic procedure you should:
However, there are some people who are not suitable candidates for laser treatment of veins. This includes:
Ensure that before you undergo any laser treatment of veins procedure, you discuss your medical history, any medications you are taking and your expectations fully with your practitioner to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for laser treatment.
Complications arising from laser vein removal treatment are very rare if the treatment is performed by a skilled and experienced practitioner, however, as with any cosmetic treatment, there are risks and certain side effects and complications. Most of these are temporary, though some may turn out to be permanent.
The potential unwanted laser treatment for veins side effects include:
Complications after laser vein removal are rare but may include:
These conditions should generally resolve themselves with no long-lasting side effects. Laser treatment of veins is normally safe when performed by a qualified, experienced physician. Ensure that you follow all the advice that your laser treatment of veins doctor gives you, to minimize the possibility of experiencing some of the more serious risks and complications.
There are several types of lasers that can be used to treat varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and face. Although your doctor will decide which type is best to treat your condition, some of the lasers used to treat veins include yellow light lasers, green light lasers, and other intense pulsed light systems.
Before your treatment proceeds you will be asked to put goggles on to protect our eyes from the powerful laser light.
No local anesthetic is normally needed, though you may opt to have a topical anesthetic cream applied prior to the treatment. A cooling gel may be applied to your skin. Some lasers however have a special chilled hand piece which acts to cool the surface of the skin while the beam from the laser penetrates the skin.
During the laser vein removal procedure, the laser, which emits light of a particular wavelength or color, is directed into the skin to target visible veins (blood vessels). It passes harmlessly through the top layer of epidermis of the skin. The blood vessels absorb the light, which results in heating and destruction of the vein by a process known as thermocoagulation.
The dispersed blood cells, in the form of a bruise, are then carried away by the body’s collecting cells, leaving behind normal skin.
As the laser energy is absorbed by the skin, it heats it up, and creates a sharp pinprick, burning sensation. The discomfort level is moderate, and no anesthesia is required.
There is little heating (and therefore minimal damage) to the surrounding skin. Following laser treatment, damaged vessels are absorbed into the body and little or no trace remains of the spider veins or varicose veins.
When the laser passes over the skin you should only feel a small pinch, or a sensation as if someone is snapping an elastic band against your skin. An anesthetic cream can be provided to ease the discomfort. The skin is soothed by cooling both before and after the laser is applied to protect the superficial layers of the skin from heat damage and reduce the discomfort.
There may be some redness or swelling of the skin right after the laser treatment for veins, but this disappears within a few days. The skin also may be discolored, but this will disappear within one to two weeks. Patients can return to normal activity immediately after treatment.
The laser treatment of veins can take anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, and depending on the size and number of veins, one to five treatments may be needed to achieve the desired results. Treatments should take place approximately every four to six weeks.
Following your laser treatment of veins some redness, a slight burning sensation or bruising may occur. The skin will be cooled to ease these symptoms. Any swelling can be eased by the use of cold packs, and any pain can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.
A burning sensation may be experienced for one or two hours after a laser treatment for veins session. Immediately following treatment, spider veins will be darker and more visible. Over two to six weeks, your spider veins usually fade. When larger veins are treated, a tan or brownish pigment may persist for a few weeks or months following treatment. You may notice a temporary ‘greyness’ in the veins, which will pass, and you might notice that some vessels have disappeared immediately.
Avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours after treatment. It’s also best to avoid hot showers and also spicy foods.
You may generally resume most normal activities immediately. However, it is recommended that you avoid strenuous exercise for the first 24 hours after treatment. The use of sunscreen is recommended on any treated areas exposed to the sun for at least two weeks.
After each treatment, you will see a 30-40% improvement in leg spider veins. An average of three treatments is normally needed at around three-month intervals to produce the desired results. Most people find that the majority of the treated veins have shown significant improvement within two to six weeks of treatment. However, your final results may not be apparent for several months.
The number of laser treatment for veins sessions and length of a session depends on the size, location and depth of the vein. Laser therapy is most effective for small and medium size spider veins. Combination therapy, where laser treatment is combined with sclerotherapy (where a solution is injected into the vein through a micro-needle and causes the vein to turn white, and then gradually disappear) can be considered if you have small, medium and large spider veins.