Sclerotherapy Overview
Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective way to eliminate unwanted spider or varicose veins, which can form on the legs. The procedure involves a series of injections into the vein with a sclerosing agent. Through the skill and technique of our board-certified dermatologists, sclerotherapy safely and effectively cuts off the blood supply to the feeder vein. By wearing compression stockings, the blood supply remains cut off in the targeted vein, causing it to dissolve over a few weeks.
At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego, California, we are proud to have several of the country’s leading experts in the treatment of visible, enlarged, or even painful spider or varicose veins. Our very own medical director Dr. Mitchel Goldman is a pioneer and leading authority in the field of veins and sclerotherapy treatments – he’s actually considered the godfather of sclerotherapy.
He has founded and was President of the American College of Phlebology, national society of over 20,000 physicians who treat leg veins and has written and lectured extensively on these and related vascular topics, publishing multiple medical textbooks on the subject in 5 languages, some of which are now in their 6th edition.
As leading experts in the latest dermatologic procedures, Cosmetic Laser Dermatology frequently conducts clinical trials to advance the field of cosmetic and laser dermatology treatments.
Candidates for Sclerotherapy Vein Treatment
Sclerotherapy is an ideal treatment option if you are currently experiencing the following problems:
Leg Veins
Chest Veins
Hand veins
During a consultation at our San Diego office, we will examine your veins and address your concerns to develop a customized treatment plan to meet your needs.
If it’s determined that you’re not a candidate for sclerotherapy, you may fare better with a different vein treatment, including:
Vascular Surgery (Phlebectomy)
Laser Treatment
Endovenous vein ablation, CTEV
Benefits of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a safe, minimally invasive treatment option that helps eliminate unsightly spider or varicose veins, allowing you to feel comfortable wearing shorts, skirts, and other clothing that shows your legs.
Other benefits include:
- Clear, smooth skin
- No more pain or discomfort
- Visible results within 2 months
- Optimal results in 3-4 months
Furthermore, sclerotherapy does not cause many side effects. In some cases, patients may experience minor swelling, discoloration, and/or bruising, although these normally dissipate in 7-10 days.
With sclerotherapy, you can have successful vein removal without surgery, anesthesia, or downtime. And because our vein reduction specialists perform the procedure themselves, you’ll be getting the best treatment and results possible.
Schedule Your Sclerotherapy Procedure With A Dermatologist At Our San Diego Medical Spa Today
If you’re ready to learn more about this safe, effective procedure, contact Cosmetic Laser Dermatology at our San Diego office today.
What to Expect
Our vein specialists at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology have performed more successful sclerotherapy procedures than anyone else in the San Diego area. When you come to our skin care center, you’re in the hands of the foremost sclerotherapy experts anywhere who put your comfort and individual needs first.
Sclerotherapy is a highly effective treatment, eliminating over 90% of an injected vein in a single session, which typically takes no more than 15 minutes. It is important to note that results vary and depend on each patient’s unique vein issues and overall health. In some cases, 2 – 3 sessions are recommended to achieve the best possible results.
Please read our pre/post-treatment guidelines for sclerotherapy and sclerotherapy for hands.
Pre/Post Treatment Guidelines
Before Your Procedure:
- If you are taking Coumadin (Warfarin), Plavix (Clopidogrel), Motrin (Ibuprofen), Aleve
(Naproxen), Aspirin or other supplements like fish oil, Vitamin E, flax, etc., please let
your physician know before your procedure, as these medications can cause bruising. - DO NOT STOP any prescribed medication unless your primary care doctor approves it.
- Please be aware some medications must be stopped 1-2 weeks before the procedure
to minimize bleeding or bruising. - Avoid self-tanners and spray tans 2 weeks prior to treatment.
During your procedure:
- You will be given disposable shorts to wear.
- During the injections you will be lying flat on a bed.
- Multiple injections will be administered.
- Your physician will determine if he/she is able to treat both legs in one visit. If only one
leg can be treated, you may schedule as soon as the next day to have the other leg
treated.
During sclerotherapy for the hands:
- 1-4 injections will be administered on each hand.
- The treated hand is wrapped in an ace bandage for 24 hours. We suggest treating
your hands a day apart so they are both not wrapped up at the same time.
After your procedure:
- You will need to wear a 30-40 mmHg, thigh-high, graduated compression medical
stocking (available at our office) 24 hours a day for 1 full week, including when you
shower, exercise and while you sleep. You will be measured in our office for appropriate
size stockings. - Walking as much as possible is recommended after treatment (mild to moderate
exercise is also okay). - Tenderness, soreness, itching and mild discomfort may be experienced for a few days.
- Once you remove the stocking, your leg veins may look worse.
- Bruising, tenderness, soreness and darkening of the veins are normal.
- 2 weeks after your treatment you may experience a coagulum (a small collection of
blood that is trapped within the vein but is NOT a blood clot). Coagulum may be tender
and sore. We advise that you come in for a follow up and have your physician drain the
coagulum. Draining the coagulum will help relieve tenderness and soreness and minimize brown staining of the skin. Ibuprofen 400mg (OTC) 2-3 times a day can be taken to help relieve inflammation. - On average, it takes 6-8 weeks to notice full improvement.
- Patients may need more than 1 treatment. If so, we recommend that you wait 2 months
before retreating. - Hyperpigmentation (brown staining) of the skin located over the treated veins may
persist for weeks to months prior to resolving. All of these symptoms are temporary and
will subside naturally over time.
If your symptoms worsen over time, please contact our office at (858) 657-1002.
To learn more about how we can help you overcome your problem veins, we encourage you to contact our team of experts today, as our warm, compassionate physicians will address your concerns and listen to aesthetic goals so that you can get the best, most customized treatment possible.
To know more, visit ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ or contact our body sculpting experts at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology.
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FAQs
Q: Is sclerotherapy safe?
Q: Who should perform sclerotherapy injections?
Q: When can I see results after my sclerotherapy injections?
Q: What are varicose veins?
Q: Will I need multiple treatments?
Q: Is there any downtime following sclerotherapy in San Diego?
Q: Are the compression socks needed for the best long-term results from sclerotherapy or mainly to manage the swelling or circulation?
Q: Why would itching occur after sclerotherapy? How often does it occur in patients?
Q: Sclerotherapy was performed just days ago, and now I have a swollen leg and toes. Is this normal?
Q: Is sclerotherapy recommended for tiny veins on the cheeks?
Q: How many weeks post-sclerotherapy is it advisable to do medium to high-intensity exercise?
Other Options
In addition to sclerotherapy, at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego, we can improve your veins with laser treatments or phlebectomy surgery (depending on the severity of your veins). To find out which procedure is more suitable for your condition, contact our team of cosmetic laser dermatologists to treat unsightly leg or hand veins so you can look and feel your best.
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