Many women believe their gams are their best asset, but it’s hard to feel confident about your legs when you’re self-conscious about the appearance of visible veins and vein bulges. If there’s ever a time to start preparing for the upcoming season of dresses, skirts, and swimsuits, it’s now – and you can start your pre-summer preparation by refining the appearance of your legs. At Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT we understand the best way to refresh your legs is with sclerotherapy, a unique non-surgical vein treatment.
How Long Does Sclerotherapy Take?
Broadly speaking, sclerotherapy is one of the quickest and least invasive vein dermatology treatments available to patients. Your treatment appointments will take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete, based on how many veins need to be treated and the condition of those veins.
For example, patients who only have spider veins will have shorter treatment appointments, whereas patients with pronounced varicose veins may require treatment appointments that take closer to 45 minutes to complete. But overall, this treatment is much quicker and more comfortable than invasive vein surgery or even laser vein ablation.
How Soon Can You See Results?
There are a few different stages of your recovery and most patients have some variance between expected recovery time. In general, most patients see their final results within two to six weeks, depending on the size and location of the veins being treated. Those who have significant varicose veins may need up to 12 weeks to see full results.
Are Results Permanent?
Yes and no. You should expect that problematic veins treated with sclerotherapy will be permanently reduced or eliminated for life. But getting rid of one vein abnormality doesn’t prevent another vein abnormality from forming. It’s common for some patients to once again develop varicose veins or spider veins several years after their initial vein treatment.
Can You Prolong Results?
There are several ways you can prolong your results. One of the best ways to prevent new varicose or spider veins from forming is to manage a healthy weight and get adequate cardiovascular exercise; these actions will lower the likelihood of developing new vein abnormalities after your treatment.
You may also be able to prolong your results by regularly elevating your legs and being conscious about how long you are sitting or standing. Any activity that allows blood to pool in your legs and when your legs are below heart level will, over time, increase your likelihood of developing new varicose or spider veins.
What Is Recovery Like?
Your recovery involves several different stages The first stage will be your first week after your treatment, which is when you will be the most limited during your activity. During this time, it’s not recommended that you participate in any strenuous exercise, such as running or jogging. You will also need to stay out of hot water, such as baths, hot tubs, and saunas, and refrain from sweating.
You will be able to return to work on the day or the day after your treatment. Most patients are able to return to all of their normal daily activities, within certain limitations, within seven days of their treatment. The following week will be laxer in terms of activity restrictions, although it’s still not recommended you participate in any activities that significantly raise your heart rate. We will provide you with a more detailed list of aftercare instructions to follow after your appointment.
Why You Need Compression Stockings
During your recovery, it’s imperative that you wear compression stockings as directed. Compression stockings are special garments for your legs that are similar to very tight socks. Wearing these stockings will help encourage your veins to heal more quickly and prevent new varicose veins from forming during your recovery.
In fact, the use of compression stockings is helpful for managing circulation even when you are not recovering from this vein treatment. It’s common for those who have varicose veins to wear compression stockings during high-performing activities, such as exercising or standing on your feet for a long time. Depending on your risk of developing new varicose or spider veins, you may want to speak with your regular physician about wearing compression stockings even after your recovery.
Why a Low Heart Rate Matters During Recovery
One of the keys to your recovery is keeping your heart rate low. When your heart rate increases, so does your blood pressure and consequentially the amount of stress placed on your veins, particularly the veins in your legs. While it’s important for cardiovascular health that you achieve a high heart rate every day through exercise, your recovery period should aim to keep your heart rate as low as possible. The lower you can keep your heart rate, the more likely it is for your results to be successful.
How You Can Minimize Bruising
Hands down, the longest-lasting symptom of your recovery time will be any bruising the lingers as a result of the treatment. Many patients opt to use Arnica supplements to help minimize bruising and speed up the overall recovery process. Products such as SinEcch can help resolve any bruising associated with this treatment and enable you to achieve your final results much more quickly.
What Else Do You Need to Know About Sclerotherapy?
Although sclerotherapy has been a tried-and-true cosmetic treatment for the last two decades, it seems that there is always more to learn about this treatment. So, what do you need to know aside from your expected result and recovery time? We’ll unpack the basic questions of what, how, and who before you call to schedule your first appointment.
What It Treats
Sclerotherapy is primarily a treatment for varicose veins and spider veins. Although this is not the only treatment for these vein conditions, it is one of the more popular treatment options due to the non-surgical and minimally-invasive approach, which is preferred by a majority of patients. In particular, this treatment is designed to treat varicose veins and spider veins in the legs.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are a common vascular condition characterized by twisting, bulging, and dark veins that are visible through the skin. Varicose veins are often gnarled like the roots of a tree and tend to be thick and dark, usually purple for most skin tones. Varicose veins are more common in women than in men and can occur at any age, although most people experience them in their 30s.
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are small capillaries that have risen to the surface of the skin and are visible through the dermis. Spider veins are aptly named as they resemble spider webs. These veins are usually dark purple, red, or blue, and can cover large areas of skin, sometimes as much as a silver dollar or more. Spider veins can occur independent of varicose veins and can also be found on areas of the body aside from the legs, such as the face.
What Causes Vascular Conditions?
Scientifically speaking, all vascular conditions are caused by stress placed on a vein that weakens the wall of a vein over time; when the vein wall is weak due to increased blood pressure, the vein responds by stretching and twisting. Vascular conditions such as varicose veins and spider veins are generally benign and not signs of circulatory issues. However, there are other causes that may be associated with the development of these veins, such as:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Medication
- Weight
- Pregnancy
- Genetics
Genetics are particularly important for the development of varicose veins. Many people find that if they have direct blood relatives with varicose veins, they will also develop varicose veins sometime during their lifetime. Some studies even suggest that varicose veins will develop earlier in each generation.
Why Do Hormones Matter?
Hormones are likely a leading cause of varicose veins and spider veins in most people. This is because hormones will dictate factors such as blood pressure, particularly during pregnancy. Many women find that they develop varicose veins during menopause, likely caused by hormonal fluctuations.
Why Does Weight Matter?
Weight is another leading cause of vein abnormalities due to the direct relationship between body weight and the amount of stress placed on the legs. People who are overweight are at higher risk of developing varicose veins due to increased blood pressure that is allowed to pool in the legs.
How It Works
This treatment is very simple and truly only requires a small injection of a special saline solution, which irritates an affected vein and causes that vein to collapse. When the vein collapses, blood flow is redirected to healthy veins in the body, and the vein is eventually absorbed by the body. This process will take several weeks, which is why you may not see results for up to six weeks.
Additional Treatments
Most patients only require one treatment appointment to achieve their desired results. However, other patients may find that additional treatment appointments are required to achieve the desired result. This is usually because there are multiple veins that need to be treated, or because the vein that is being treated is particularly large or pronounced.
For these reasons, you may require two or three appointments to complete your treatment and achieve your desired aesthetic goals. Your additional treatments will be spaced several weeks apart to ensure that additional treatments are necessary. We will assess your condition during your recovery period to determine if additional treatments will be necessary for you.
Who Ideal Candidates Are
Most people who have vein abnormalities are good candidates for this treatment, particularly if they have one or more vein issues in one or both legs. Patients for this treatment should not be currently pregnant or breastfeeding, and should not have given birth in the last three months. Patients also must not have a medical history for developing blood clots and must not have had DVT, or deep-vein thrombosis, or strokes. We will determine your qualifications for this treatment based on your consultation and your medical history.
Smooth the Appearance of Your Legs With Sclerotherapy!
Smooth, even-toned, and crystal-clear legs are one of the hallmarks of beauty and confidence, particularly in women. And yet, many women struggle with this confidence due to vein conditions like varicose veins and spider veins, both of which cause veins to be visible through the skin. One of the leading solutions for these conditions is sclerotherapy, a revolutionary non-invasive and non-surgical treatment. If you think you are a good fit for this treatment, contact us at Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT to schedule your consultation today!