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We offer two methods to treat unwanted blood
vessels and veins depending on location and severity: Sclerotherapy and
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment
Sclerotherapy
What is
Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy
involves injecting a solution into spider or varicose veins with a very fine
needle to cause inflammation and collapse. Once the vein has collapsed, no
blood can re-enter and the vein is absorbed by the body's natural responses.
What causes
spider veins to be visible?
These unwanted blood vessels often occur as an inherited tendency, and may be
part of the aging process. Long periods of standing or sitting, trauma to the
leg (leg veins) from blows or falls, pregnancy, birth control pills, and hormone
replacement therapy are all factors that can be involved. Exercise and normal
weight maintenance may help prevent the development of spider veins.
Is Sclerotherapy safe?
Sclerotherapy is a safe procedure with few significant risks. Less than 5%
of patients experience even minor adverse effects. The most common complication
is the development of brownish pigment in the treated area, similar to a
freckle, which usually disappears within two to six months. If the veins are
unusually weak, there may be some temporary bruising around the injection site.
Patients may develop a tiny scab at the injection site if any of the solution
escapes from the blood vessels. The scab is treated with an antibiotic ointment
until it clears. There is little risk of infection or bleeding from
Sclerotherapy. Furthermore, sclerotherapy is not bad for your circulation. The
treatment eliminates veins that are no longer useful, eliminating pain and
improving the cosmetic appearance.
How many treatments sessions are needed?
The number of treatments required will depend on the severity of the condition and the extent of
improvement desired. Sclerotherapy requires 15 to 30 minutes. Usually, the veins
nearly disappear immediately. A few days after the treatment, once the swelling
goes down, the results appear even better. Most patients can expect a 50 to 90
percent improvement after several treatments. To guarantee success and
counteract the appearance of new spider veins, touch-up treatments may be
required every year or so. The majority of veins can be treated in one session,
however, the treatment can be broken down into multiple sessions (1 - 4 weeks
apart) if the patient desires.
What happens after the procedure?
After the procedure, the patient returns home wearing a pressure dressing
and/or pressure hosiery to prevent post-injection
bleeding, as well as to promote healing. There are no restrictions. You can
exercise, work, etc. as normal. Patients are encouraged to walk immediately
after the procedure. A healing interval (typically one month) must pass before
you have another series of injections in the same site. After each treatment,
you will notice further improvement of your appearance.
Vascular IPL for Facial Vessels
Courtesy of:
Robert Weiss, MD
Courtesy of:
Beverly Kemsley, M.D.
What are vascular
IPL treatments?
Vascular lesions, or blood vessels, are lesions most commonly found on the
facial area, especially on or around the nose. We use have been very successful
in the treatment of these lesions with Intense Pulse Light (IPL)
How does vascular IPL work?
IPL works well on broken blood vessels because the visible components of blood
absorb the energy of the light. When this occurs, the vessels which make up the
lesion blanche and disappear.
What is the recovery like?
Basically, there is no down-time. You will be red in the area immediately after
the procedure, which disappears in the first day on most patients. Some may
experience slight scabbing or crusting in the area treated. In some cases the
result is immediate while others take place over time. More than one treatment
may be required.
Courtesy of:
Beverly Kemsley, M.D. |
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