Sclerotherapy near Bradenton, FL

Sclerotherapy Demystified: Your Guide to Treatment and Results

For some Floridians, spider veins show up as a nuisance, often making people feel too self-conscious to wear shorts, skirts, or dresses.

For others, spider veins can be a sign of deeper issues, leading to the pain and embarrassment of varicose veins. Worse, they could signal the beginning stages of chronic venous insufficiency and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

At Florida Lakes Vein Center, we speak the language of veins. When patients come to us for sclerotherapy near Bradenton, FL, they’re looking for help addressing the appearance of veins on their legs and elsewhere.

They also want to make sure there aren’t worse venous issues lurking deeper down that could threaten their health, their livelihood, and their future.

Request a screening, and let us examine your concerns. With our advanced technology, expertise, and deep commitment to the best in care, we’ll help you understand how sclerotherapy may be your best choice for better vein health.

An Introduction to Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy near Bradenton delivers a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment to reduce or eliminate spider veins, and small to medium varicose veins.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins, also known as “telangiectasias,” are small blood vessels that appear close to the skin’s surface. You can see them with the naked eye, often looking like tiny red, blue, or purple tree branches or spider webbing, hence the name “spider veins.”

Patients usually exhibit these small, damaged blood vessels on their legs, though spider veins can also appear on the face and other areas.

Prevalence of Spider Veins

If you see spider veins on your legs or face, you’re not alone—50% to 55% of women in the U.S. exhibit spider veins. That number increases with age, especially when reaching their 70s and 80s.

For men, 40% to 50% show spider veins, with the percentage increasing with age.
What causes spider veins?
Unfortunately, spider veins are often hereditary, making them difficult or even impossible to prevent.

Other issues that can cause or exacerbate spider veins—and small to medium varicose veins—can include:

  • Aging
  • Obesity
  • Lifting very heavy weights
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Standing or sitting for excessive amounts of time
  • Alcohol consumption

One of the more common causes we see in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and our surrounding communities, is vein disease.

When Spider Veins Are Warning Signs

Spider veins rarely cause health issues in and of themselves, though they may occasionally cause some discomfort. For the most part, they primarily cause aesthetic concerns, leading a person to prefer clothing that covers the veins.

However, telangiectasias may appear as symptoms of other, more impactful issues, such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). When a patient has this condition, their veins can’t move blood back to the heart effectively.

This can cause swelling in the limbs (most frequently the legs), and the appearance of damaged blood vessels such as spider veins and varicose veins.

CVI can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • High blood pressure
  • Blood clots
  • Damaged or malfunctioning valves
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Standing for long periods of time
  • Obesity
  • And more

It’s best to have a vein screening at Florida Lakes Vein Center to ensure your spider veins aren’t signs of a worse condition.

 

Our vein ultrasounds produce detailed images of your veins without surgery, needles, or X-rays. Using this advanced technology, we can diagnose and then treat underlying conditions causing the spider veins or varicose veins.

Related topic: The Best Varicose Vein Treatment near Bradenton, FL

Sclerotherapy Erases the Appearance of Spider Veins and Varicose Veins

Spider veins usually have no health-related concerns, and we can address their visibility with sclerotherapy near Bradenton, FL.

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure involving the injection of a sclerosing solution into affected veins, including spider veins and smaller varicose veins. During treatment, we carefully and precisely inject a sclerosant solution directly into the affected vein.

At Florida Lakes Vein Center, our solution delivers polidocanol as the active medical ingredient. It irritates the vein walls, causing them to seal shut and reroute blood flow to healthier veins.

Over the next few weeks, the treated veins gradually fade away as the body naturally absorbs them, leaving your skin looking smoother and clearer.

Some veins may require more than one treatment session to fully resolve.

The Process

Our process provides thorough evaluation and expert, targeted treatment.

It Starts With a Consultation

There’s no cookie-cutter approach to personal care, because every patient is unique.

Picture of a provider and a patient shaking hands in the lobby as she gets ready to improve circulation in Sarasota

 

Your Florida Lakes Vein Center team of expert caregivers will first meet you for a one-on-one consultation. We’ll discuss your concerns, symptoms, and medical history, making sure you’re heard and understood. Plus, you can ask all the questions you need and share your thoughts openly.

During this time, your provider will examine your areas of concern, so you should wear something comfortable that will allow simpler access to the treatment area.

We will ask about common symptoms you might be experiencing that are related to vein issues, including:

  • Leg heaviness and tiredness
  • Restless legs
  • Itching or burning skin
  • Swelling or aching
  • Skin discoloration or texture changes

We’ll also ask about your family history of vein disease and your daily lifestyle to ensure we have a complete picture of your health.

Ultrasound for an Ultra-Clear Diagnosis

If our examination indicates the necessity, our next step is a vein ultrasound examination. This painless and noninvasive scan allows us to:

  • See beneath the surface of your skin
  • Assess your veins
  • Create a targeted treatment plan tailored to your needs

With this personalized plan ready, we can schedule your sclerotherapy appointment.

Sclerotherapy Treatment at Florida Lakes Spa

Sclerotherapy near Bradenton, FL, provides a quick, comfortable, and effective treatment for your spider veins and smaller varicose veins.

 

During your treatment session, we’ll use a fine hypodermic needle to inject the sclerosant solution directly into the spider or varicose veins. Most patients find the procedure very manageable and appreciate that there’s no need for anesthesia or significant downtime.

Post-Treatment

After your treatment, you’ll relax for about 15 minutes to ensure you’re feeling comfortable. This also allows us to monitor for any immediate reactions. When all checks out, you’re free to go about your day as usual. Your leg will be wrapped with a medical bandage to maintain pressure on the treated vein for the next 24 hours.

During your recovery, you may notice some temporary side effects from treatment for the following weeks, including:

  • Treated veins initially appearing darker before fading
  • Some bruising, swelling, or mild sensitivity
  • A higher skin sensitivity to sunlight

Most patients start seeing results within 6 to 8 weeks, with continued improvement over time.

To achieve optimal results, we recommend that you:

  • Stay away from tanning beds for at least 3 weeks
  • Skip hot baths, whirlpools, and saunas for 7 days
  • Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory medications if possible
  • Wear compression stockings for 24 to 48 hours after treatment

Contraindications for Sclerotherapy

Near Bradenton, FL, our patients may not be suitable candidates for sclerotherapy if they:

  • Have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or are prone to it
  • Suffer from clotting conditions
  • Have known sensitivity to sclerosing agents
  • Are prone to infection
  • Currently exhibit poor general health
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins

We frequently work with insurance companies for treatment of more serious varicose vein and CVI issues.

However, if the vein size and reflux don’t meet insurance criteria for medically necessary vein treatment, you may still choose sclerotherapy to help improve the appearance of the treatment area.

Our only caveat is that the faulty veins feeding the spider veins and varicose veins may cause new ones to appear. Once the veins reach the size that insurance will cover (3mm and 500 milliseconds of reflux), we may recommend other treatment before sclerotherapy to help you save time and money.

Whether your insurance covers sclerotherapy depends on your provider. You will have to check with your insurance provider for more information on coverage. Without coverage, sclerotherapy costs $300 per visit.

Sclerotherapy Details

  • Number of Treatments: Typically 4 sessions or more
  • Appointment Length: 30 to 45 minutes
  • Downtime: None—resume normal activities immediately
  • Compression Time: 24 to 48 hours of wearing compression stockings
  • Anesthetic: Topical lidocaine spray if needed
  • Driver Required: No—feel free to drive yourself home

Related topic: Why Patients Trust Our Vein Center near Bradenton, FL

Feel Confident Again

Now that you know how sclerotherapy near Bradenton, FL, works to address the appearance of spider veins, make the call to make your legs look (and feel) better. You can also schedule a consultation online for a screening.

Mature retired couple enjoying time on the Florida Lakes beaches in their shorts because they're happy with how their legs look after sclerotherapy in Bradenton, FL

 

No matter what you’re struggling with, our cutting-edge treatments can ease your symptoms and address the causes of your venous issues. We’re here to help you manage your venous concerns and get you back to enjoying the life you love in the Florida Lakes region.

Care You Need, the Way You Need It

Experienced vein specialist and general surgeon T.C. Lackey II, D.O., leads a team of compassionate professionals who value your voice, your health, and your peace of mind. We’ve helped more than 10,000 patients address spider veins and other venous issues.

We’ll put that same expertise to work for you, with a customized treatment plan that helps you look and feel great. At Florida Lakes Vein Center, quality care really is a “No Veiner®.”

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