Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a quick, minimally invasive treatment that can eliminate spider veins. At Houston Vein Specialists in Houston, Texas, esteemed board-certified vascular surgeon David D. Shin, MD, RVT, RPVI, FACS, offers sclerotherapy using the best-standardized solution available to ensure excellent results. Call the office to book your appointment today. 

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for spider veins and small (under 3 millimeters) varicose veins. With sclerotherapy, Dr. Shin injects a solution (sclerosant) into your unwanted veins. 

The sclerosant damages the endothelium, the inner walls of a vein. The damaged endothelium attracts platelets and cellular debris that triggers blood vessel clotting and causes the veins to collapse. 

The damaged vein is gradually replaced with tissue in the following weeks, and the spider vein fades away. Blood from treated spider or varicose veins travels to other healthy veins. 

Sclerotherapy treatment only takes about 15-20 minutes in the office. 

What can I expect after sclerotherapy?

You can return to your regular activities immediately after sclerotherapy. But plan on wearing medical-grade compression stockings for one week. 

It’s normal for veins to look worse after treatment, but that’s temporary. You should notice an improvement in about a month. 

How many sclerotherapy sessions will I need?

Every patient is different, but you need a series of sclerotherapy sessions to treat veins fully. Sessions occur every 4-6 weeks.

Is sclerotherapy a cosmetic or medical procedure?

Sclerotherapy is generally a cosmetic procedure with the goal of improving appearance. 

However, spider and small varicose veins can signal underlying vein disease, such as saphenous vein reflux. In that case, you could need vein ablation to treat the underlying cause of your vein disease and sclerotherapy or another treatment to resolve troublesome veins. 

Insurance providers don’t cover sclerotherapy as a cosmetic procedure, but insurers may cover the treatment of vein disease that causes troublesome symptoms. 

Ready to learn more about sclerotherapy treatment? Houston Vein Specialists is here to help. Call the office to schedule your consultation today.