Sclerotherapy is a treatment used to get rid of the appearance of spider veins. Spider veins are clusters of tiny, visible veins that are close to the skin’s surface and appear as red, blue, or purple in color. At Dermatologists of Birmingham, we have helped men and women in Birmingham, Alabaster and surrounding areas in Alabama who want to eliminate their spider veins with sclerotherapy.What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is one treatment option for spider veins, web-like veins that appear just below the surface of the skin. The technique was first used in the 1930s, and now it is much easier, safer, more effective, and more comfortable than in the early days. Sclerotherapy treatment by a board-certified dermatologist will give you the peace of mind to know that the doctor has the necessary training and experience to achieve the best treatment results.
Spider Vein Treatment
Spider veins typically do not produce any symptoms. Patients seek spider vein treatment for cosmetic reasons.
Varicose Veins Treatment
Varicose veins are a vascular condition that develops when blood flows back to the heart and pools inside the veins. Varicose veins are larger than spider veins, and may produce pain and bulge outward. Sclerotherapy may help with varicose veins, and your dermatologist will discuss your varicose veins treatment options during the consultation.
Benefits of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is best for treating small, unwanted visible veins on the legs. Spider veins that have appeared over the past five to 10 years respond to sclerotherapy with great success. Veins that have been present for 10 to 20 years will also respond with very good results. For spider veins that have been present for 20+ years, your dermatologist may recommend other treatment options.
How Does Sclerotherapy Work?
Sclerotherapy works by injecting a sclerosing agent into the vein which shrinks the vein, and causes the vein to be reabsorbed by the body. This process treats the veins that are generally considered to be superficial veins between the skin and the fascia. The veins between the skin and fascia are generally not important for the greater vascular system due to their superficial nature.
What to Expect from Sclerotherapy
Treatment generally takes about a half hour for the dermatologist to inject the sclerosing agent in the necessary areas for treatment. The sclerosing agent will then cause the veins to start shrinking. Eventually, the veins will disappear. It is recommended to walk for about 20 minutes after treatment to help circulate the sclerosing agent in the targeted veins. If you have a long car trip after treatment, please plan to stop every hour for 10 to 15 minutes. During these rest stops, you should walk around to avoid blood clots.
For best results, patients will wear compression socks for a week post procedure. This helps to encourage the veins to shrink. The compression socks also prevent the potential of blood clots.
We recommend a follow up visit three months post-treatment. The dermatologist will determine if another sclerotherapy treatment is necessary.
How Much Does Sclerotherapy Cost in Birmingham?
Depending on the symptoms associated with your spider veins and varicose veins, the cost of sclerotherapy may be covered by medical insurance. You may have out-of-pocket expenses that can be paid by cash, checks, major credit cards and our convenient financing options.
Spider veins and varicose veins are signs that the blood is not circulating back to your heart properly. Our board-certified dermatologists are qualified to perform sclerotherapy to destroy the damaged veins. To learn more about sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins and varicose veins, contact Dermatologists of Birmingham to schedule a personal consultation.
*Individual results may vary.