Varicose veins on the legs can make anyone feel self-conscious about their appearance. Whether you only have a few varicose veins or you have very large veins, sclerotherapy can get rid of these unwanted veins permanently. Learn more about this treatment process before you schedule your first appointment at Oceana Luxe Medspa in Corpus Christi, TX.
How Long Does Sclerotherapy Last?
The results of sclerotherapy can usually last for several years. This vein treatment is very successful, with the vast majority of patients achieving optimal results. Permanent results are possible because the chemical injection for this treatment will permanently close affected vein walls, and these veins will disappear forever.
However, it may be possible that your results are temporary if new varicose veins and spider veins develop in other areas of the legs. This is why it’s very important to adopt healthy lifestyle practices so that you can enjoy results for as long as possible.
How Can You Maintain Your Results?
Maintaining the results of your varicose vein treatment will ultimately depend on how well you can adjust to healthier lifestyle practices that will prevent the development of new varicose veins in the legs. While some of the primary causes of varicose veins are out of your control, such as genetics and hormones, lifestyle factors can have a great impact on how easily you can develop vein concerns in the future. The best methods to maintain your results include:
Maintain Healthy Weight
Sometimes, varicose veins are caused by being overweight. Your BMI is a good index to use as a judge of how healthy your body weight is for your age, height, and gender. By staying within the recommended BMI range, you will more likely be able to maintain a healthy weight and avoid varicose veins in the future.
Being excessively overweight essentially places additional stress on the blood vessels in your legs. When blood pools in these vein walls, the walls will stretch and bulge and will eventually rise to the surface of the skin as varicose veins. People who can lose a moderate amount of weight are less likely to develop varicose veins.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise can strengthen your cardiovascular health and reduce blood pressure, which will go a long way to preventing varicose veins. Not only is exercise essential for maintaining a healthy body weight, but lowering your blood pressure with regular movement can significantly reduce stress on veins in the legs. Lower blood pressure means that blood is less likely to pool in the leg veins, which is why it is easier to avoid developing spider veins and varicose veins.
Elevate Feet During Rest
If you have a history of varicose veins and you want to prevent varicose veins in the future, you may benefit by elevating your feet during rest. When you can elevate your feet to be slightly above heart level, you can reduce blood pressure in your legs and take the stress off of the veins in your legs. You can elevate your feet by using foam or a pillow when you are lying down or sitting down. Even using a chair recliner is adequate elevation.
Avoid Standing or Sitting Too Long
Finally, to avoid developing varicose veins in the future, you will also want to avoid sitting or standing for too long. Sitting or standing for great lengths of time will place more pressure on blood vessels in the legs and increase the likelihood of developing varicose veins. You should aim not to sit or stand for more than two hours at a time. On the subject of sitting, some physicians also recommend not crossing your legs when you sit.
Other FAQs
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
In general, one sclerotherapy treatment is powerful enough to reduce even very large varicose veins. However, if you have multiple large veins that need to be treated, you may need two to three treatments in total to address all of your vein concerns. We can give you a better estimation of the number of treatment sessions you will need to remove your varicose veins during a consultation after your veins are examined.
What Can You Expect From Treatment?
Your treatment appointment will usually take less than an hour. For your appointment, you will need to wear loose-fitting pants or a skirt to give easy access to your legs. Your treatment will be very comfortable since we may prepare the injection site with a topical anesthetic.
What Should You Do Before Treatment?
Before your treatment, you may need to stop using aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood-thinning medications for at least three to five days. You will need to go over your current list of medications and supplements with your doctor to ensure that all of your medications are compatible with this treatment. Some people using certain cardiovascular medications, anti-inflammatory medications, and other prescriptions may need to stop using these medications temporarily.
Before your treatment, you should not use any lotion, body oil, or skincare products on any area you want to treat. You should also not shave on the same day of your treatment; if you must shave your legs, shave at least 48 hours before your appointment. You should not use any laser hair removal or wax treatments for at least two weeks.
What Should You Do After Treatment?
After your treatment, you will need to continue to avoid anti-inflammatory medications and blood-thinning medications for at least another week. You will need to avoid hot baths, showers, hot tubs, saunas, and hot compresses on the legs. It’s generally also a good idea to avoid any excessive exercise or heavy lifting for at least 48 hours.
After your treatment, you should be able to resume light activity, such as errands or walking. You should only wash the injection site with lukewarm water and mild soap. You may also be instructed to wear compression socks or stockings for at least once to two weeks to promote healing.
How Long Is the Recovery Process?
The recovery process for this treatment is usually about two to four weeks long depending on the number of veins being treated and how well you can follow aftercare instructions. You usually see the results of this treatment for smaller veins in about three to six weeks, while larger veins may respond in one to two months.
Is This Treatment Right for You?
This treatment is generally a good option for people who have moderate varicose veins they want to remove. This treatment is an alternative to surgical vein removal and other forms of vein treatment. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions may not be qualified for the treatment.
What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
This treatment is an excellent option for many people, especially those who are not qualified for other varicose vein treatments. One of the major benefits of the treatment is the fact that it’s non-surgical, which makes it an excellent option for people who are not healthy enough to withstand general anesthesia or more invasive vein treatments. Other benefits of the treatment include:
Pain and Symptom Relief
If your varicose veins cause symptoms such as pain, aching, or throbbing, sclerotherapy is a good option to relieve pain and other symptoms. When the affected vein is closed off by this treatment, all of the symptoms associated with varicose veins will gradually disappear as blood flow is directed to healthier veins in the legs.
Better Leg Appearance
Many people seek sclerotherapy simply to improve the appearance of their legs. To be sure, improving leg appearance is crucial for some people’s self-esteem, especially those who feel self-conscious about the appearance of dark or twisted veins on their legs. In addition to better leg appearance, this treatment can also give people more clothing options, especially people who have been avoiding wearing skirts, shorts, or other clothing because of varicose veins.
Get Rid of Varicose Veins Today
Sclerotherapy is a safe, well-tolerated treatment that can be used to address even the most severe varicose veins. This treatment can produce permanent results, particularly if you can adopt healthier lifestyle practices to avoid developing varicose veins in the future. If you want to relieve the pain of varicose veins or improve your self-confidence, this treatment may be ideal for you. Reach out to Oceana Luxe Medspa in Corpus Christi, TX to schedule an appointment today.
