Do you have varicose veins or spider veins? Nowadays, you can undergo effective treatments that can restore the natural appearance of your legs. Sclerotherapy is a simple and minimally invasive vein treatment without the need for any surgery or stitches. Within weeks, your unsightly veins can disappear, leaving you with smoother, healthy-looking legs. Here’s everything you need to know about the results of the treatment and what you can expect.
When Do Veins Disappear After Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy prevents blood from flowing through your visible veins and causes the walls of your spider veins or varicose veins to stick together and collapse. Within three to six weeks, you can expect spider veins to disappear. There’s even a chance that small spider veins will disappear right after the treatment. Varicose veins, on the other hand, can take up to four months to disappear. These more prominent veins will eventually disappear in a more gradual process.
What Changes Can You Expect Right After the Treatment?
Treated veins start collapsing right after we perform the treatment, but their complete disappearance takes time. How long before your veins disappear after the treatment depends on how severe they are. Usually, the fading process gradually occurs over the next several weeks or months.
How Long Will the Results Last?
The results of your vein treatment are designed to be permanent. We inject a solution that will cause your veins to collapse and be absorbed back into your body. There’s no need to worry about the treated veins becoming more prominent or returning, but the treatment can’t prevent or stop new varicose veins and spider veins from developing.
To make your results last, you can take steps to care for your health and reduce the chances of new varicose veins or spider veins from forming. It’s also possible for you to receive follow-up treatments that target newly developed veins before they worsen.
What Are the Limitations of the Treatment?
Most people who receive the treatment get positive results. However, it’s important to note that sclerotherapy is ideal for smaller varicose veins and spider veins. Additionally, those who are bedridden, pregnant, or breastfeeding are not ideal candidates for the treatment. For new mothers, it’s ideal to undergo treatment at least three months post-partum.
If you have large varicose veins, it may take longer for you to see significant results. Many other forms of vein treatment are available if your varicose veins don’t respond to the injections.
Can Spider Veins Go Away on Their Own?
Spider veins or varicose veins can become less noticeable over time (especially after pregnancy), but it’s rare for them to go away on their own. The appearance of unsightly veins can worsen over time when left untreated. If you often participate in vigorous activities or stand for long periods at work, your varicose veins and spider veins will likely worsen. Symptoms such as swelling, aching, and fatigue can develop.
Additionally, exercising more will not cause spider veins to fade away. Staying active is great for your health and can boost your blood circulation. Nevertheless, engaging in low-impact exercises and light activities can ease the discomfort caused by varicose veins. Maintaining a healthy weight also relieves pressure in your lower body and can prevent varicose veins from getting worse.
What Causes Spider Veins?
Varicose veins and spider veins become visible because of the damage to your blood vessels. When the valves inside your veins weaken, they’re no longer able to push blood back to the heart. So what happens is that some blood accumulates in the vein, exerting pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. Over time, this pressure will cause veins to weaken, bulge, and become noticeable under the skin.
Certain individuals are more prone to developing varicose veins and spider veins. Genetics, sitting and standing for long periods, pregnancy, hormonal changes, and aging can all cause damage to the veins.
Preventing Varicose and Spider Veins From Getting Worse
External pressure can worsen the appearance of varicose and spider veins. By following a few tips, you can prevent unsightly veins from getting bigger and causing more unwanted symptoms. Here are some good practices:
- Maintain a stable, healthy weight
- Consume more fiber and avoid high sodium
- Keep your legs elevated when sitting
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes
- Avoid crossing your legs when sitting
- Do not stand for long periods
While the tips above can prevent visible veins from worsening, keep in mind that developing varicose veins and spider veins cannot be prevented completely. You can take steps to prevent your condition from worsening. Additionally, you may undergo modern treatments that can effectively minimize the appearance of unsightly veins.
What To Expect From the Treatment
Up to 40% of those who undergo vein treatment see visible results after just one session. A vast majority, however, require a series of treatments before noticing any significant difference.
If you have veins that have been damaged for a long time, it’s more likely that you’ll need additional treatments. Combining various vein treatments can also be more effective if you have thick varicose veins or large webs of spider veins.
How Many Sessions Will You Need?
We will design a customized treatment plan based on the size and number of your veins. Most of the time, multiple treatments are required before varicose veins and spider veins go away. Each leg will require several treatment sessions before you can see significant results. However, you should notice a significant improvement within weeks, and your legs will look much smoother.
It’s ideal to have treatment sessions scheduled about a month apart. We need to allow the injection to work and the treatment area to be fully healed before any follow-up sessions. With two to four treatment sessions, you’ll achieve near-complete results.
Can You Spot Treat Spider Veins?
It’s not impossible to restore the natural appearance of your legs or minimize the appearance of unsightly veins. However, spot treatment is not enough when it comes to getting rid of your visible veins. For this reason, we’ll treat both the spider veins and the reticular veins connected to them. Initial treatments focus more on the reticular veins that supply blood to the spider veins. After subsequent treatments, you’ll see visible results.
Best Practices During Recovery
Treatments are relatively quick and don’t require a lengthy recovery period. We can finish your session in as little as an hour. You’ll likely be able to resume your regular routine with a few restrictions only. Here are some tips worth following to make sure you recover well and achieve ideal, long-term results:
Wear Compression Stockings
For up to three weeks after the treatment, you’ll need to wear compression stockings. We can give you advice on how long you’ll wear them and what degree of compression is suitable in your case. By wearing compression stockings long after your treatment, you can also reduce the risk of developing new spider veins in the future.
Get Sun Protection
We recommend that you minimize sun exposure to ensure proper healing. In the first two weeks of your healing period, you should wear sunscreen or limit your time outdoors. It’s also recommended to wear clothing that will cover your legs.
Avoid Strenuous Activities
After your vein treatment, you’ll likely be able to walk on your own and resume your activities. However, it’s best to focus on light exercises and avoid any heavy workouts in the first week after your treatment. You must also avoid sitting and standing for long periods to promote better circulation.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
If you want to eliminate spider veins or varicose veins, you can choose to undergo minimally invasive vein treatments and get visible results. You can get smoother legs without the need for downtime, stitches, or a lengthy recovery period. Additionally, sclerotherapy can be more successful than non-invasive laser treatments for spider veins. The ideal candidates for the treatment are in good overall health. Pregnant women and those who have a history of blood clots are not suitable for the treatment.
You won’t need to wait long to see the results of your treatment. Within weeks, you can see visible improvements and get closer to your personal goals. During your initial consultation, we can discuss with you a customized treatment plan so you can successfully eliminate spider veins and varicose veins here at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN. With the help of our expert staff, you can improve your physical appearance and be more confident in your skin.