If you’re looking for spider vein treatment near McLean, VA, you’re going to want to learn about sclerotherapy. According to Medscape, it’s the primary treatment for both smaller varicose veins and for spider veins. There are a number of benefits to having the spider vein treatment performed, from boosting your self esteem to improving the appearance of your legs or face. Before you schedule a consultation, here are a few key facts about the vein treatment.
Sclerotherapy usually causes a minimal amount of discomfort or pain in patients. The treatment involves injecting the spider veins with a special chemical. The chemical causes the veins to collapse and ultimately disappear. Some people feel a bit of a pinch or sting when the injection is made. Others might feel a bit of a burning sensation as the chemicals do their work.
How long your spider vein treatment takes depends on the amount of veins you have and the size of the treatment area. Generally speaking, though, sclerotherapy takes less than an hour to perform. Some people are in and out of the doctor’s office in 15 minutes.
While the initial treatment is quick, it’s worth pointing out that some people need multiple treatment sessions to get the best results. Generally, people often need between three and five treatments before they see the full results.
Along with having a short treatment time, sclerotherapy usually has a very short recovery period and limited down time, so you can have the treatment, then go on with your life. Often, people are able to go back to work or school right away after the treatment. It’s actually usually recommended that you get up and walk around a bit right after the treatment, to help your blood flow and to reduce the risk for blood clots. The one thing you’ll want to be particularly careful about after the treatment is protecting the treated area from sun exposure. Wearing a sunscreen daily and minimizing sun exposure are both recommended for about two weeks afterwards.
Your vein doctor is going to recommend that you wear compression stockings after your spider vein treatment. Compression stockings are a must after the treatment, as they put pressure on the veins and help to keep blood out of the treated veins. You can expect to wear the stockings for at least a few weeks after the treatment.
One last thing to know about sclerotherapy. Since it is usually considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance companies typically do not provide coverage for it. That means you’ll need to pay for the treatment out of pocket. It can be worth calling up your insurance company to see if they offer coverage and to get a sense of what your responsibilities will be for paying for the treatment.
