Sclerotherapy in Fullerton, CA
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy
Varicose veins and spider veins can be aggravating and make you feel self-conscious about your skin. They can impact your self-esteem and even make you feel withdrawn. These visible veins can cause you to limit your wardrobe and activities.
We can help. Under the direction of board-certified aesthetic medicine specialist Dr. Ted Y. Fisher, The Aesthetic Plan has earned its reputation as Fullerton’s leading cosmetic medicine center. Using the latest and most advanced sclerotherapy technology and techniques, we can help you correct and eliminate these frustrating imperfections. Dr. Fisher invites you to schedule your Fullerton sclerotherapy consultation with us today to learn how we can help you banish unsightly spider veins.
Sclerotherapy is a medical technique that treats varicose and spider veins. While legs are frequently the focus of sclerotherapy, the procedure can also treat problematic surface veins throughout the body. Two methods accomplish this end. The first is by the Cutera Excel V Plus Dermastat, which is applied to the skin externally above the unsightly, squiggly red vein (called telangiectasia) and cauterized by the laser beam.
Slightly larger, visible veins (often appearing green through skin called reticular veins) can also be cauterized by the Cutera Excel V Plus Cool Touch laser. When those veins do not respond to laser treatment, the vessels can be injected with specialized solutions (polidocanol solution mixed with carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen gas [re: Varithena]) that irritate the lining of blood vessels, causing them to contract and scar down thereby destroying their ability to transport blood in that vessel. The scarring closes off the injected veins, forcing blood to flow through healthier veins. The collapsed veins then fade, making your skin look and feel better. In rare cases, errant veins in the leg will necessitate closure by endovenous laser ablation due to the size or amount of reflux present. A laser catheter is inserted into the large vessel of the extremity under ultrasound guidance (a condition called chronic venous insufficiency).
After the tissue path of the vessel is numbed with tumescent anesthesia, the endo-laser device is activated, causing the end of the catheter to heat up. Ice packs are often applied to the leg during this process to keep the tissues cool and prevent burns. The catheter is then slowly withdrawn, destroying the inner lining of the vein and rendering the vein incapable of facilitating blood flow. The vein then undergoes repeat ultrasound to confirm closure, and the patient dawns a compression stocking to the affected leg and wears it for three days to facilitate keeping the vein “blood flow free” and ensure closure.
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive in-office procedure that requires no anesthesia (except in cases of endo laser treatments) and no downtime after treatment.
This proven procedure has been in use since the 1930s. A sclerotherapy session may get rid of 80 percent of injected veins, 98% of laser-treated veins, and 98% of endolaser-treated veins. Often, closing a larger vein connected to a network of smaller veins rids that area of all problematic veins.
We’ll start by listening to fully understand your goals, expectations, and concerns. From there, we’ll examine your problem areas to devise a personalized treatment plan for you. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may be required to undergo an ultrasound examination of your extremity. Sclerotherapy options can include a variety of injectable solutions and laser solutions. Some varicose veins may respond better to laser treatment than to sclerotherapy. In those cases, we may recommend our Cutera Excel V Laser System.
Excel V includes two different lasers that can be adjusted for different depths and skin tones to address a wide variety of concerns. Many of our patients have achieved excellent results using Cutera Excel V Plus laser and/or Varithena. This newly developed and gentle microfoam treatment can be delivered in as few as 1 to 2 needle sticks and requires little or no downtime. Both laser cautery and Varithena often relieve physical symptoms caused by problem veins and greatly improve their appearance.
Sclerotherapy is typically performed in an office setting and takes less than an hour to complete. A laser or a very fine needle is used to inject the treatment solution into targeted veins. Your provider may use an ultrasound device to help determine the right veins to treat. The number of veins treated in one session will depend on the size, location, and condition of your veins, as well as your general medical condition.
While sclerotherapy treatment sessions are quick, full results take time to develop. Small varicose or spider veins usually resolve in 3 to 6 weeks, while more prominent veins might take 3 to 4 months.
Veins that respond to treatment typically don’t come back. Data show that sclerotherapy carries a success rate of about 80 to 98 percent.
Following your procedure, we may ask you to lie down for 15 minutes or so to ensure you have no adverse reaction to the treatment. You might want to have someone drive you home, but otherwise, you’ll be able to resume your normal daily activities. Although it’s a good idea to lay off heavy aerobic exercise for about two weeks, please follow that advice. If you are advised to wear compression stockings, please do so. It is extremely important.
In some cases, we’ll instruct you to wear support hosiery or compression wraps on your treatment areas for 3 to 7 days. Avoid sun exposure to your treated skin for two weeks, and then use a high-quality sunscreen with at least SPF-30 daily.
If your initial treatment is successful, you will not need a “repeat” treatment in the same areas. However, you can then develop vein issues in other areas, which can be treated. If you choose multiple treatments, you may schedule your next session about three months after your first one.
Yes. We will check with you a day after your endo laser treatment or 30 days after your sclerotherapy to ensure you are doing well and monitor your results.
Injected Varithena solution or Dermastat laser may be the best treatment for smaller veins. CoolView laser may be the best treatment for slightly larger veins. Laser treatment, known medically as endovenous thermal ablation, can be a very effective technique. However, ablation is often a limited treatment for more prominent veins with abundant reflux (turbulent flow). Discuss your options thoroughly with your doctor to determine what’s right for you.
No. You will need to wait at least three months after giving birth before undergoing sclerotherapy. However, you can still get sclerotherapy if you are taking birth control pills.
