What Is Sclerotherapy and Where Can I Seek Vein Treatment Midtown?

Sclerotherapy is the most recommended non-surgical minimally invasive treatment for cosmetic treatment of spider veins, as it is widely considered by many vein specialists to be the best spider vein treatment available.

“Sclero” means hardening, which probably sounds like the opposite of what you want to happen to your veins. However, the medicine used in Sclerotherapy, known as a sclerosant, is injected by a vein doctor into the damaged veins and irritates the vein wall linings. This causes them to stick together and close off the vein, which eventually reroutes blood into healthier veins to promote better blood flow. Over time, any part of the vein that was injected with medicine will shrink down, reducing the appearance of spider veins, and the closed vein will get reabsorbed into the body.

As mentioned before, sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive and non-surgical procedure that uses very small needles to inject the medicine in the precise location of the affected veins. Since the needles are so small, there is no pain or anesthesia involved in this 30-minute procedure, so you can return to normal activities within a day of your appointment at the vein clinic. There is no recovery time because it works quickly, with results showing in less than a month, and oftentimes just one round of sclerotherapy can reduce veins by 50-80%.

You can resume your daily activities immediately after sclerotherapy treatment at a vein treatment center, but there are some steps you can take to ensure maximum benefits. Speaking of steps, vein doctors recommend that you immediately start walking around to facilitate blood flow to your legs and speed up the treatment process and results.

Another way to promote blood flow is by wearing compression stockings for at least one week after treatment, and even up to three weeks depending on how prominent your spider veins are by then. Compression stockings apply pressure on the leg and ankle blood vessels to prevent bruising and inflammation in the areas that were treated to help the veins seal closed. This reduces bruising and inflammation. If your vein doctor recommends that you wear compression stockings, you will be custom-fitted for compression stockings after your procedure at the vein center.

Another tip is to direct exposure to the sun for about three weeks, especially in the areas that were treated. Wear sunscreen with SPF60 for up to 6 weeks, and if you are someone who easily tans, take care to avoid excess sun exposure to prevent hyperpigmentation. After undergoing sclerotherapy to improve the appearance of spider veins, it is best to avoid sunlight that can cause the skin above the treated veins to darken.

You can schedule your consultation for vein treatment Midtown at our vein center with any of our three incredible vein doctors and be assured of the highest-quality care. Dr. Sareh Rajaee is a Yale-trained vascular surgeon with extensive experience in vein and arterial disease. Dr. Namrata Khimani is a double board-certified doctor who trained at both Harvard and Columbia, and her expertise is in recurrent vein disease and patients who have had prior procedures.  Dr. Juan Montoya is a Yale-trained double board-certified specialist in venous medicine and cardiothoracic surgery, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. They all prioritize patient care and strive to provide treatment with compassion and professionalism. Click here for directions and check out the Vein Treatment Clinic location in New York City for vein treatment today!