Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the method of injecting an abnormal vein on your skin with a solution that irritates the inner lining of the vein. This process causes the vein to eventually close and gradually disappear over time. It can be used to treat all sizes of veins but is primarily used to treat the small unsightly veins call telangiectasias or "spider" veins.

In order to treat the smallest of spider veins effectively, a high magnification lens and polarizing light headlamp as well as very fine needles (barely visible to the naked eye) are used in our office. Each treatment session lasts 20-25 minutes and the doctor will treat as many veins as possible in that period of time. It may be possible to schedule a "double session" initially, which may reduce the number of visits to the office. The injections are not painful and are performed while you are reading a magazine, listening to your iPod, or perhaps, reading your favorite book. You are advised to wear a fitted compression stocking after the procedure which you will wear for the next 5-10 days, depending on the size of the treated vein(s). Typically, a few treatments are needed to obtain the best results.

During you initial evaluation, we will be able to provide you a general idea of how many sessions will be needed.

Normal daily activities can be immediately resumed after your procedure though, you should avoid strenuous exercise for a week.