Sclerotherapy

Carolina Vein Institute

Varicose Vein Specialists & Aesthetic Injectors located in Chapel Hill, NC; Raleigh, NC; & Apex, NC

Visible veins like spider veins and varicose veins can affect your skin's appearance and make you feel like you should cover up at all times. At Carolina Vein Institute, which has three locations in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Apex, North Carolina, vein specialists Ashley Baquero, MD, Luan Tran, MD, and the team provide ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy treatments that effectively diminish visible veins for several months. To consult with Carolina Vein Institute about sclerotherapy for your problematic veins, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

Sclerotherapy Q & A

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for veins that you can see on the surface of your skin, like spider veins and varicose veins. It’s the most reliable method for treating spider veins and varicose veins available.

During a 30-minute sclerotherapy procedure at Carolina Vein Institute, your provider cleans your skin with alcohol before using ultrasound guidance to deliver a sclerosant into your vein. The solution disrupts the lining of your vein and causes it to weaken and collapse. Depending on the size of the vein, you might need multiple injections in one session. You can also target multiple spider or varicose veins during a single appointment.

How does sclerotherapy feel?

Sclerotherapy generally isn’t painful, but it can cause discomfort in some cases. You might feel some slight stinging or muscle cramps near the injection. If you have more than just a little discomfort, be sure to let your physician know. Pain during sclerotherapy can indicate that the solution migrated outside of your veins.

What can I expect after sclerotherapy?

You won’t need to reserve any downtime for recovery after sclerotherapy. You can go straight home or even back to work after the procedure. Your provider gives you some instructions to follow in the weeks after your sclerotherapy treatment, which may include:

Walking and moving around to prevent clotting
Avoiding intense exercise
Wearing compression socks
Attending a follow-up appointment
Avoiding direct sun exposure

You can expect to see improvements in your spider veins for 3-6 months after sclerotherapy as your treated veins slowly diminish until you can’t see them anymore at all. Sclerotherapy also resolves any pain, irritation, or discomfort that your spider veins or varicose veins can cause.

Are the results of sclerotherapy permanent?

It’s highly unlikely that any of the veins you treat with sclerotherapy will come back. The treatment has a success rate of 60-80 percent in eliminating targeted veins. However, new spider veins and varicose veins can appear on your skin’s surface, so you can schedule another treatment at Carolina Vein Institute if you need it.

To book a consultation for sclerotherapy as a treatment for spider veins or varicose veins, call the Carolina Vein Institute location nearest you or request an appointment online today.