Sclerotherapy for Vein Reduction

Have Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?

While the more popular reason most people seek to eliminate varicose veins and spider veins is for their unsightly appearance, they can also be a sign of or lead to the more serious condition of venous insufficiency. In this condition, blood flow can pool and cause much discomfort such as:

swelling in legs, ankles and feet
heavy leg syndrome
cramping in lower legs
resetless leg
leg pain

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure to help eliminate varicose veins and spider veins (superficial telangiectasias) by the use of injecting a sclerosing agent into the veins. At the Stram Center we use the sclerosing agent Polidocanol, FDA approved and considered the safest sclerosing agent with the least amount of side effects. This agent irritates the veins from the inside, causing them to collapse. The treated veins are reabsorbed through your body’s natural healing process and disposed of with other cellular waste.

While results cannot be guaranteed in every case, the majority of patients will have significant resolution of spider veins after 1-3 sessions about 4 weeks apart, depending on the size of the spider veins.

What are Spider Veins?

Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are tiny thin veins that are close to the surface of our skin and can be in different shapes including spider like, branch like, or lines. Though these veins come off of our larger veins, they are not essential to our venous system. Spider veins are most common in women over men and can start at a young age, but become more visible after age 40. Development of these veins can depend on genetics, hormones, weight, or professions that require long periods of sitting or standing. To treat these veins, we do a simple procedure to inject these tiny veins with a sclerosing agent called polidocanol. Veins that respond to treatment, typically do not come back.

What to Expect

Some patients report mild irritation to the site where the sclerosing agent in injected. We offer complimentary nitrous gas to help manage discomfort with little to no side effects. Most people can return to their regular activities on the same day, though we do recommend avoiding hard exercise for 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Positive results of sclerotherapy for small varicose veins usually show in 3-6 weeks. Larger veins can take 3-4 months. The treated veins will look worse before they look better! Bruising, redness, local swelling and some tenderness are normal after treatment. These symptoms may take 3-5 weeks or longer to fade.

Benefits of Sclerotherapy

While results cannot be guaranteed in every case, the majority of patients (75-90% of cases) will have significant resolution of veins after 1-3 session depending on the size of the veins
Long term effectiveness: veins that have been treated will not reappear
Little to no side effects
Safe and cost effective alternative to surgery
Recovery is quick

Will it Hurt?

We strive to ensure your experience is pleasant! We offer complimentary nitrous gas to help alleviate any discomfort or anxiety. Nitrous oxide has been safely used throughout the world for pain and anxiety management for many decades, and continues to be used worldwide today. After your procedure, the effects of the nitrous will wear off within minutes. Your experience matters and we make it a priority.

How to Get started

Call to schedule a 30 minute consultation in our Delmar, NY office with Dr. Heather Haslun DNP, FNP-C. Heather is certified to perform sclerotherapy. She will physically assess and make her recommendations for you on the number of sessions you may need.

Another way to help you truly feel and Look your best.
Call today! 518.689.2244.