Sclerotherapy is an injection therapy used to treat varicose and spider veins. Sclerotherapy was traditionally used to treat small spider veins, but we are now able to treat some larger varicose veins with advanced techniques like the ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.

Conservative therapy relieves the symptoms but does not treat the underlying cause of varicose and spider veins. Conservative treatment includes: losing and controlling weight, elevating your legs several times a day, avoiding prolonged periods of sitting and standing, adopting a regular exercise routine and taking over the counter medication for the discomfort.

Compression stockings are used to prevent the blood from pooling in the legs. While compression stocking do offer relief, most people find them hot in the summer and unattractive to wear with shorts and skirts. After trying conservative therapy many patients prefer a more permanent solution. In the past the treatment for varicose veins was surgical vein stripping. That outdated treatment left several scars up and down the leg and the recovery was very painful and debilitating with a great deal of bruising. Today there is a much less invasive way to treat varicose veins. At Vein Specialists of the Carolinas we offer Varithena, a type of ultrasound guided sclerotherapy in which a concentrated FDA approved foam is injected into larger varicose veins to eliminate them. Patients can resume normal activities as soon as they feel like it. A compression garment is worn for a couple of weeks after treatment .

Cosmetic Sclerotherapy sessions used to treat spider veins, in the absence of varicose veins, are an easy and mostly pain-free treatment. Some patients may experience slight discomfort or itching depending where the spider veins are located. The sessions generally lasts about 30 minutes and patients are able to immediately return immediately to daily activities with compression garments on. You may notice some slight bruising, but this should subside within a couple of weeks. The number of treatment sessions necessary to reach a patient’s goals may vary, depending on the number and size of the veins treated. Treatments are usually given 3 to 4 weeks apart.

Dr. Draughn at Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, focuses on treating varicose veins and spider veins in the most minimally-invasive ways possible using the newest and best treatment options on the market. He believes in thoroughly assessing the patient to determine the cause of their vein problems before creating a customized treatment plan for every patient.
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Our new patient appointments are extensive. During your first appointment a detailed diagnostic ultrasound is performed to thoroughly assess your veins; digital photographs and compression garment measurements are also taken. Once the ultrasound study has been obtained, you will meet with our doctor. At that time he will examine you and go over the results of the ultrasound study before creating a customized treatment plan. A member of his staff will sit down with you to discuss your insurance coverage and any cost to you for the treatment plan Dr. Draughn recommends. When calling to make a sclerotherapy appointment at Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, our staff will ask you some questions over the phone to try to determine if your vein problems have symptoms indicating a larger underlying problem, or if they are cosmetic before scheduling a cosmetic sclerotherapy session. If you have symptoms in your legs the underlying problem should be treated first. If your legs do not hurt or have any symptoms of varicose veins and just look bad, an ultrasound is probably not needed. After a brief evaluation to make sure it is safe, sclerotherapy can be done at the initial visit.

We encourage you to consider sclerotherapy for your spider and/or varicose veins. Set up an appointment today with Vein Specialists of the Carolinas to discuss a treatment plan specifically designed for you.