What to Expect from Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
July 28, 2016
Patients view most
spider veins as a bothersome cosmetic issue. Florida vein doctors treat these veins on an outpatient basis using either sclerotherapy or a laser procedure. For leg veins, physicians consider sclerotherapy the gold standard of treatment.
How Sclerotherapy Works
Using a fine needle, a vein specialist performs this Florida vein treatment by injecting a sclerosant, also called a sclerosing agent, into a spider vein. This special substance, in either liquid or foam form, irritates the targeted vein and causes it to eventually collapse, then fade, according to the University of Utah. Since the body resorbs the treated vessel, healthy veins nearby pick up its circulatory work. Doctors at a vein clinic often use ultrasound with sclerotherapy in order to map the blood vessels they intend to treat. They also sometimes utilize sclerotherapy to eliminate small varicose veins.Good Candidates
The first step to finding out if a patient is a good candidate for sclerotherapy is scheduling a consultation with a vein specialist. The Cleveland Clinic reports that three situations could determine that an individual is ineligible:- Being pregnant or having delivered less than three months ago
- Currently breastfeeding
- Being a bedridden patient