Say Goodbye to Spider Veins with Sclerotherapy in Cleveland

Complications from factors like your lifestyle or genetic makeup can manifest themselves through physical conditions like spider veins. These veins can bring with them both mild discomfort and a negative cosmetic impact, making it difficult for some sufferers to carry out their normal lives. Discover what these problem veins are and why sclerotherapy continues to be one of the leading treatments for them.

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins, as the name implies, are veins that have a spider web-like appearance. They can be red, blue or purple in color and are easily visible through the skin. They appear most often on the legs but also can appear on the face.

A number of factors cause the onset and aggravation of spider veins. Some of the top contributors for this condition are:

  • genetics
  • obesity
  • pregnancy
  • hormone replacement therapy
  • oral birth control pills
  • history of blood clots
  • standing for prolonged periods
  • inactivity
  • wearing restrictive clothing like girdles

Spider veins are not generally painful. However, they may be accompanied by symptoms like aching, throbbing or swelling.

Spider veins primarily impact the way you look and can compromise your self-confidence in your appearance. You may hesitate to wear clothing like shorts and skirts because of how visible the veins are on your legs. You may ease their appearance or eliminate spider veins entirely by undergoing sclerotherapy.

What Is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that reduces or eliminates the appearance of spider veins. It is performed on an outpatient basis right here in our office. Depending on the size and number of your affected veins, the procedure generally only takes less than an hour to complete.

Before your procedure begins, our specialist will clean the area being treated with an antiseptic solution. The area will then be covered with a sterile drape. We will also apply a topical numbing agent to your skin to minimize any discomfort.

Next, the veins will be injected with a saline solution that will irritate the blood vessels. This irritation will cause the blood vessels to stick together and collapse. In a matter of days, the spider veins will fade and eventually disappear.

After your procedure is over, the treated area will be cleaned and bandaged. If sclerotherapy was performed on your legs, you may be fitted with surgical stockings to prevent the development of blood clots.

You should be allowed to return home the same day. You will be advised to follow your post-care instructions carefully and to continue to wear your compression stockings for about a week to promote healing.

You may be able to resume your normal activities within 24 to 48 hours. Until then, you should avoid heavy lifting and minimize walking.

Spider veins impact your appearance and make it difficult to live your normal life. They can be easily remedied through treatments like sclerotherapy. This outpatient procedure provides relief from the symptoms and appearance of spider veins and is relatively simple from which to recover.

We are pleased to provide this safe and convenient treatment at Smith Vein Institute, located in Concord Township and Middlefield. If you are in the Cleveland or surrounding area, contact us today to learn more about how sclerotherapy can help you.

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