SCLEROTHERAPY

Refresh Med Spa offers sclerotherapy for the treatment of spider veins.

Sclerotherapy is the injection of a sclerosing liquid, through an extremely fine needle, causing microscopic damage to the cells lining the vein. The internal walls of the vein become ‘sticky' and close up. This prevents further flow of blood through the vessels. The body's own immune system then clears away the dead vessels. It is a virtually painless treatment which has been shown to be the most successful treatment available today for these tiny blood vessels.

A 20-minute session can treat a few areas on each leg, and you may have to wear compression stockings afterwards.

Most patients usually see an overall improvement of 80-90 % following treatment. This treatment however does not prevent new veins from emerging in the future and as time passes by, it may be necessary for touch-up treatments when new leg veins surface.

For a full assessment of your condition, please do not hesitate to book in for a consultation.

What does it feel like?

The sclerosing agent is used in tiny amounts and causes a brief tingling sensation as the agent enters the vessels. You may feel a slight to moderate burning sensation immediately after the injection but this disappears within a few seconds.

What happens after sclerotherapy?

Your legs may be wrapped post treatment. You might want to wear trousers to cover these. For this reason sclerotherapy is best avoided in hot weather. You will be able to return to normal activities and driving immediately afterwards. Small bruises will be visible at the injection sites but will fade within a week or two. For one or two weeks the veins will probably appear more prominent than before treatment but will then usually begin to fade and continue to do so for up to eight weeks or longer. From 4 to 6 weeks later, remaining veins can be re-injected to reduce them further.

How long does the treatment take?

In most cases, treatment takes 30-60 minutes and no recovery time is needed.

How many treatment sessions are needed?

The number of treatments varies and is dependent upon the patient and the extent of the condition but each session must have a 4-6 week interval. This and other aspects of the treatment will be discussed in more detail at the consultation.

How long do the results last?

In the long term, sclerotherapy provides benefit as a treatment for unsightly, superficial veins, however it is not a preventative treatment and cannot stop new problem areas from appearing, but it is believed that the use of support tights, weight control and regular exercise may be helpful in prevention. A top-up may be required in 2-3 years.