Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective treatment that involves the removal of veins by injecting a substance, usually saline, foam, or glycerin into the vein. This substance irritates the vein, causing it to collapse, stick together, and eventually break apart. Since the substance coats the inner lining of the vein, once it collapses, the vein begins to be reabsorbed gradually by the body. The adjacent tissue absorbs the vein fragments and you are left with healthy-looking skin. The process takes around three to six weeks for you to experience relief from spider veins and three to four months to be relieved of varicose veins.

Areas of Concern:

At Riopelle Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center, we most commonly perform sclerotherapy with foam for large varicose veins and with glycerin or sodium tetradecyl sulfate for spider veins. We often combine sclerotherapy with a laser to achieve the most effective, most rapid, and least uncomfortable removal of leg veins. All patients should have a minimum of a venous Doppler exam prior to proceeding with any vein treatment of any type. This exam is performed painlessly in our office at the time of the consultation at no extra cost. An abnormal Doppler exam suggests that deep veins that cannot be seen on the surface are leaky and need to be treated also. Failure to recognize and treat deep veins will lead to a rapid reoccurrence of spider and varicose veins on the surface.

Most people can handle sclerotherapy well but, like with most procedures, sclerotherapy may not be right for everyone. Women should not undergo sclerotherapy while pregnant, for example. Talk with your doctor to make sure you are a good candidate for this procedure. Some veins resist treatment, so you may need repeated treatments to gain relief from stubborn veins. Veins that respond to treatment usually do not return, but you may develop new varicose veins or spider veins near the treated area. At Riopelle Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center, we have years of experience in performing sclerotherapy and other treatments designed to treat varicose veins and spider veins. Every member of our staff understands the importance of the health of our patients. If you are interested in experiencing high-quality, individualized patient care, give us a call for sclerotherapy in San Ramon at (925) 275-9333.