Sclerotherapy in Los Angeles

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What are spider and varicose veins?

Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are those tiny purple and red blood vessels found most commonly on the thighs or lower legs of women. They are hereditary and can form anywhere on the leg, from the top of the thigh to the ankle. Occasionally, spider veins appear on the face.

Varicose veins are larger. They can appear raised with a bluish color and can become quite painful. Although spider veins and varicose veins carry blood, they are not part of the venous valve system. Your spider veins and varicose veins can be eliminated permanently through a simple office procedure called Sclerotherapy.

What is Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy was developed in the 1920's. During the procedure, a sclerosing solution is injected into the vein through a micro-needle. The tiny needle generally causes very little pain. The sclerosing solution causes the vein to blanch (turn white), then gradually disappear. A typical treatment may last for 15 to 20 minutes and consist of multiple injections. Injection Sclerotherapy may eliminate the need for an invasive surgical procedure.

Will Sclerotherapy work on my veins?

Prior to treatment, we will review your complete medical history to determine how long you have had a problem with your veins and the severity of the problem. We need to know if the problem is exacerbated by physical activity and if there has been any prior surgery or treatment on your veins. The doctor may test to determine if the venous system is affected. If it is, surgery may be advised before Sclerotherapy is attempted. If the area to be treated can be saved, Sclerotherapy will be recommended.

How many treatments will I need?

Complete correction of the treated area is not expected on the first treatment. In most cases, about 50-70% of the treated vessels will be gone for good. However, new veins may appear and additional treatments are generally required for optimum results. These treatments may be in three-week intervals.

What is recovery like?

You may be asked to wear special heavy-duty stockings to help keep pressure on the veins. This will reduce bruising and help keep the treated veins closed. Bruises around the treated areas usually disappear after the first week. A tan or brownish pigment may persist for six to eight weeks when larger veins are involved. Occasionally, small clots can develop at the injection site. These are not a cause for concern and may be removed to allow healing to progress.

Patients are generally encouraged to resume normal activities immediately. We do ask that you refrain from vigorous activities for the first 24 hours. Walking is encouraged because it increases blood flow through the other veins. Although your final results may not be apparent for several months, most patients experience a 60% to 80% improvement.

Are there other treatment available?

Today's new medical lasers provide a safe and effective non-surgical treatment option for the removal of some spider veins. Advanced laser treatments deliver a precise dosage of energy to each vein. During your treatment, light energy is delivered through a special laser hand piece to the targeted vein, in a series of brief pulses. The light energy is absorbed by the blood vessels, but not by the surrounding tissue. This heat absorption causes a coagulation of the blood vessel, which is subsequently absorbed by your body.

If you would like to learn more about our vein treatments or another cosmetic procedure, please call our office today.