Sclerotherapy
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WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER LEG VEIN TREATMENT
NOT ALL VEINS DISAPPEAR IN ANY ONE TREATMENT
IRRITATION
DELAYED RESPONSE
TENDERNESS
PIGMENTATION
SMALL SORE
COMPRESSIONS AND EXERCISE
"BLUISH VEINS"

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER LEG VEIN TREATMENT
We remove unwanted leg veins using sclerotherapy (injections), laser treatment or both. While we take great care when treating these unwanted vessels, the patient should understand that one or more of the following may occur. [back to top]

NOT ALL VEINS DISAPPEAR IN ANY ONE TREATMENT
Some veins are resistant to removal no matter what the treatment or the skill of the healthcare provider. It may take several sessions of treatment for adequate satisfaction to occur. Additional fees will be charge if further treatment is necessary. [back to top]

IRRITATION
At first, there may be some redness, irritation and swelling in the areas injected. Some times, we recommend you apply Vitamin K cream for bruised or red areas and even a cortisone cream for irritated areas. [back to top]

DELAYED RESPONSE
Veins irritated sufficiently to collapse may not do so for several weeks after treatment. Don't be overly concerned if you see little effect immediately. [back to top]

TENDERNESS
Some people note a small zone of tenderness associated with a bruise or dark blue-black vein that may be quite firm and tender to touch. These changes might indicate a localized blood clot. If tenderness persists, please call us. We may need to drain the clot. We usually ask our patients to wear support stockings or wrap tender spots in an Ace bandage to offer support and to take buffered aspirin every three or four hours while awake. The aspirin causes the tender veins to improve more quickly. [back to top]

PIGMENTATION
Over a period of two weeks to several months, some patients notice a few brown, discolored spots where the veins were injected. These pigmented areas will fade slowly and we have special creams to help things along. [back to top]

SMALL SORE
On rare occasions, a few people note a small zone of irritation and scab formation. This is a little sore that heals by itself over 1-3 weeks. [back to top]

COMPRESSIONS AND EXERCISE
At times, we advise compression at the site of injection for a period of time. In general, we are not concerned with exercise patterns and tend to allow unlimited activity after the injections. [back to top]

"BLUISH VEINS"
At times with sclerotherapy, there are areas of very fine new veins that form where originally other individual larger veins were. The formation of these new veins is locally unpredictable and quite uncommon. Laser treatment is very helpful in removing these.
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