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What are the Side Effects of Sclerotherapy?

February 10, 2019 • • Sclerotherapy

If you’re dealing with spider veins or varicose veins, a good Las Vegas vein treatment that’s effective is sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is often the first-line treatment option for treating small varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy involves a laser vein treatment whereby your doctor injects a salt-like solution directly into the vein. The solution causes scarring of the vein and forces blood to reroute through your healthier veins. Local tissue then reabsorbs the collapsed vein where it eventually fades.

It is a minimally invasive procedure and can treat varicose and spider veins on various areas of your body, including your calves, thighs, face, ankles, and feet. Not only can sclerotherapy help improve the appearance of veins, but can also help reduce or eliminate symptoms such as itching, pain, and aching.

Following a sclerotherapy treatment, your treated veins will begin to fade within several weeks. However, in some cases, it could take more than a month to see full results. Sometimes, patients require several sclerotherapy treatments.

Like with any procedure, there could be side effects.

Side Effects of Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins

This vein treatment could cause side effects such as:

  • •Stinging
  • •Bruising
  • •Skin discoloration
  • •Swelling
  • •Raised red areas appearing around the injection areas
  • •Discomfort

These side effects should begin going away in a few days. Brown spots or lines could develop near the area being treated as well. But, these usually go away within three to six months — sometimes longer. In rare cases, brown spots or lines could become permanent.

Some potential more serious side effects may include:

  • •Skin ulceration around the injection area
  • •Allergic reaction to the sclerosing solution
  • •Inflammation that’s typically mild may cause discomfort surrounding the injection area
  • •Blood clot formation in the veins treated

After your sclerotherapy treatment, you should continue following up with your doctor to help manage any potential side effects and increase the procedure’s efficacy.

You may need to wear gradient compression stockings after your first and subsequent vein treatments to reduce any mild swelling you might experience as well as help your body’s healing process. Your physician will give you detailed instructions on the correct placement, the proper size for the right amount of leg pressure and the amount of time you’ll have to wear them.

Sclerotherapy seems to work best on the smaller spider veins and varicose veins and you should start seeing improvement in a few weeks following your treatment. For bigger varicose veins, it could take up to four months before you see any noticeable improvement. You might need a few sessions to eliminate all the spider or varicose veins completely.

Look to Desert Vein Institute for Your Sclerotherapy Treatment

The doctors at the Desert Vein Institute, are experienced board-certified vein care surgeons who provide patients with personal hands-on care. Schedule a consultation today by calling 702-726-9709.

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