If you have varicose, spider, or other unsightly vein conditions, you may be concerned about whether they affect your health. Varicose veins are damaged blood vessels that appear like blue and purple knots just below the surface of your skin. This condition occurs when your veins are damaged, and your blood builds up in your legs instead of flowing upward into your heart.
Spider veins, often smaller and less severe than varicose veins, can cause discomfort and self-consciousness. These red, blue, or purple web-like veins appear on the legs or face and are caused by weaker or broken valves in the veins. While they are rarely a major health problem, they can cause aching, itching, or burning feelings. Fortunately, therapies such as sclerotherapy offer an efficient alternative for removing these veins, enhancing look and comfort.
Varicose Veins vs. Spider Veins
Spider veins are a different condition, although they may look similar to varicose veins. Sclerotherapy consists of an injected chemical called a sclerosant, which causes the damaged vein to dry up and disappear. Of these two conditions, varicose veins are the more problematic – from a medical point of view.
Although both conditions can cause an unsightly appearance of your legs, varicose veins can cause complications – including bleeding leg ulcers or clots (which can travel upward to your lungs or brain.) A blood clot in your lungs or brain is a life-threatening complication.
Solutions for Varicose and Spider Veins
If you are struggling with varicose or spider veins and are looking for sclerotherapy in the Longmeadow, MA, area, our team at Vanishing Veins is available to help you find the appropriate treatment for your condition. Sclerotherapy is the primary treatment for spider veins, but it is sometimes also used to treat smaller varicose veins effectively. You’ll be happy to learn that sclerotherapy treatments are performed during a short office visit.
Sclerotherapy uses a very thin needle to inject a sclerosing chemical directly into a damaged vein. Hypertonic saline, polidocanol, or glycerin mixed with epinephrine will cause the veins to swell, stick together, and then wither and disappear within your body. This treatment is sometimes performed with ultrasound guidance to fine-tune the delivery of the chemicals. You can watch a video of the sclerotherapy procedure on our website.
About Sclerotherapy Treatments
Our clients seldom report painful sensations from sclerotherapy, but there have been occasional reports of slight burning or tingling. Our team at Vanishing Veins has years of experience with varicose and spider veins. Our experience has taught us that several visits may be required to resolve the appearance of your damaged veins completely. However, the results will typically last for a year.
If you elect to have sclerotherapy, our team will instruct you on preparing for the procedure. You’ll be given a list of things to do and activities to avoid. The staff will notify you that you should not shave your legs or apply any type of lotion on the morning of the procedure.
Call Us Today for an Appointment
No matter which type of vein disorder you are struggling with, you can feel confident when visiting our team at Vanishing Veins. Clients can make an appointment at our office for an initial examination and learn whether these treatments are right for them.
If sclerotherapy is right for them, we will keep them educated as they prepare for their procedure. Contact us for an appointment today, and let’s help your damaged veins disappear.
