If you have varicose veins, you may be wondering what you can or should do about the situation. There are several treatment options available for varicose veins that vary a great deal. One of the most popular of these treatments is known as sclerotherapy. Learn more about sclerotherapy and what you can expect from the procedure. Then, you can talk to your doctor about scheduling an appointment for sclerotherapy as soon as possible. 

Sclerotherapy Is Minimally Invasive

One of the biggest benefits of sclerotherapy for patients is that it is a minimally invasive procedure. This means no long stay in a medical center or hospital.

Sclerotherapy Is Just an Injection

Sclerotherapy is a treatment that involves the injection of chemicals directly into the varicose veins. The chemical solution, which is normally a salt solution, affects the veins by causing irritation. The irritation will then make the vein collapse or close up, stopping blood flow to the varicose veins. This cuts them off and will allow them to shrink and go away.

Before Sclerotherapy Avoid Shaving

You should avoid shaving the area of your legs affected by varicose veins before you receive sclerotherapy. This prevents the skin from being irritated and can help to ensure the injection site heals properly and without infection. Of course, to allow the injection site to heal, you also should not shave your legs for several days after the procedure. But not shaving is a small price to pay for getting rid of those pesky varicose veins. 

You Might Notice Partial Sclerotherapy Effects in a Few Weeks

Sclerotherapy is not necessarily noticeable right away. It takes time for the veins to collapse and begin to shrink. As such, it might take a few weeks for you to see the results of sclerotherapy for small varicose veins. If you get sclerotherapy on larger veins, it can take multiple months to see results. 

However, the injection site will heal completely in a matter of several days to a few weeks. This healing process may involve swelling or bruising at the injection site. Just know that this skin reaction to the treatment is completely normal. 

Sclerotherapy Is Usually a Series of Treatments

Sclerotherapy injections for varicose veins are not usually all done at the same time. Instead, they are generally administered as a series of treatments. Most people will need three or more sessions to see full results. These sessions are spaced out by several weeks or a few months so that each injection site heals and the results of each session are noticeable. 

Sclerotherapy is a popular and highly effective treatment option for varicose veins. Knowing more about it, you can prepare yourself for the procedure. Schedule a sclerotherapy session with your doctor today. 

To learn more about sclerotherapy, contact a doctor.