Spider veins are harmless, though they can cause aching or burning and it is common for people to be self-conscious and seek treatment to remove them. People living in Nashville, TN and the surrounding areas, can turn to Robbins Plastic Surgery to seek treatment for spider veins with sclerotherapy.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for spider and reticular veins in which medication is injected into the veins. This medication causes them to collapse over time and eventually disappear. Because the veins are no longer functioning, blood is rerouted to other working veins in the legs. Sclerotherapy is done in an office setting with the number of treatments varying depending on the extent of the spider veins. Most spider veins mostly appear on the legs but can be found on the face, feet and ankles.
Am I a Good Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
To determine if you are a good candidate for sclerotherapy, you must have an evaluation by a trained physician or clinician. Some of the characteristics that indicate your ability to tolerate the procedure and benefit from the results include:
- Good physical health with no blood or vein issues
- No history of blood clots
- Have not had a child or breastfed within the last three months
How Does Sclerotherapy Work?
Sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive procedure where our trained nurse injects a solution into each spider vein to cause it to contract and collapse. With this treatment, most patients typically see significant improvement after each treatment. Our trained nurse determines how many treatments are
needed during an evaluation of your condition.
Benefits of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a very successful treatment for spider veins and small varicose veins and offers the following benefits:
- Treatment is performed in doctor’s office
- Minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment
- Typically takes about 45-60 minutes to complete
- Very little discomfort
- Return to normal activities immediately following each treatment
How to Prepare for Sclerotherapy
Preparing for sclerotherapy is very simple as there is little preparation involved. The affected area and veins are evaluated to determine if sclerotherapy is the best option to treat them. Additionally, your physician may check for any underlying vein issues or other health conditions that may negatively affect sclerotherapy. It is necessary to abstain from any pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin as well as blood thinners, vitamins and supplements that may cause excess bleeding for several days prior to the procedure. The day prior to and the day of treatment, you should not shave or apply lotion to the area or extremity to be treated.
How Much Does Sclerotherapy Cost?
The cost of sclerotherapy varies with each patient depending on the degree of the condition as well as the size of the areas to be treated. During a consultation, we can go over the costs associated with this procedure as well as our payment options. We offer financing through CareCredit® and Prosper® Healthcare Lending, and also take cash, checks and major credit cards.
Returning to Normal Activities After Sclerotherapy
Depending on the extent of the treatment, most patients return to their normal activities immediately following sclerotherapy treatments. You may be required to wear compression stockings for up to two weeks to keep the area compressed. It is very important to walk immediately following the treatments to keep the blood flowing and prevent any clotting. The results from sclerotherapy are usually visible within a few weeks to a few months depending on the severity of the spider veins and how many treatments are needed to adequately treat the spider veins.
Chad Robbins, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified plastic surgeon and his staff are experienced in performing non-surgical cosmetic treatments like sclerotherapy on patients living in and around Nashville and Franklin, TN. Contact Robbins Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation.