Sclerotherapy

Albany, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs Spider Vein Removal

Spider veins commonly occur in many men and women throughout the United States. They can be unsightly, making you feel less attractive to others in shorts or bathing attire. Fortunately, spider veins can be effectively treated using sclerotherapy.

Am I a Candidate for Sclerotherapy?

At your initial consultation, Albany plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Barach will perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether you are a good candidate for this procedure. In general, ideal candidates for sclerotherapy are in good overall health, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure.

There are certain factors which may rule you out as a sclerotherapy candidate:

• Pregnancy
• Prior history of blood clots
• Circulatory disorders and varicose (bulging) veins

Your Sclerotherapy Procedure

Your sclerotherapy treatment is performed on an outpatient basis. No anesthesia is necessary, and you should experience minimal, if any, discomfort. The length of time for your treatment will vary based on the number and size of veins you would like treated. In most cases, the procedure will last somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes. You may require 3-4 treatments to achieve the best possible results.

Dr. Barach will clean the treatment region and then inject a saline solution directly into the vein using a thin needle. The solution irritates the inner lining of the vein, causing it to swell and collapse. The vein will form scar tissue that will eventually become invisible over time.

You may experience minor stinging for a couple of minutes during the injection process. However, this discomfort should be relatively minor. Dr Barach will have you wear a compression garment over the treated area for 24 hours to facilitate the healing process.

Recovery and After-Care

You can generally resume most activities the day of treatment; however, strenuous activity should be avoided for about 24 hours. It is also important to stay out of the sun for two to three weeks in order to prevent the formation of dark spots on your skin.

For two days following your procedure, it is important that you do not:

• Take hot baths
• Use hot compresses
• Go in whirlpools or saunas

Showering is allowed, and you can wash the injection sites with mild soap.

Bruising should subside within a few weeks. Final results may be apparent in three to six weeks when treating spider veins.

Please contact our experienced plastic surgeon today to schedule your initial sclerotherapy consultation. Upstate Plastic Surgery serves patients in Albany, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, New York.