Spring in New York means lighter clothing (finally!), outdoor events, and more time in the sun. If spider veins or visible surface veins have kept you reaching for long pants, now is the time to consider treatment.
At South Shore Vein and Aesthetic Medicine, fellowship-trained, double-board-certified specialist Dr. Jacobs offers sclerotherapy as a quick, minimally invasive procedure that addresses visible veins.
If you’re curious about the process, we’ve got you covered. Here’s your guide to sclerotherapy at South Shore Vein and Aesthetic Medicine.
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive vein treatment used to treat spider veins and other cosmetic vein issues.
That means you don’t have to worry about any incisions, tissue removal, or sutures. The procedure is performed right here in our office and typically requires little to no downtime.
During the procedure, Dr. Jacobs injects a specialized medication directly into the targeted vein. This kickstarts the whole process:
At South Shore Vein and Image-Guided Medicine, we use tiny needles to access even the smallest veins. We also use FDA-approved medications specifically designed for vein treatment.
Dr. Jacobs offers several kinds of sclerotherapy, including oxygen foam sclerotherapy and cryo-sclerotherapy. Each one has a slightly different process.
For larger spider veins or slightly bigger surface veins, Dr. Jacobs may recommend oxygen foam sclerotherapy.
With this technique, we mix oxygen with the medication to create a foam. The foam displaces blood from your vein and keeps the medication in contact with the vein wall longer, which makes it more effective.
As the name suggests, cryo-sclerotherapy uses cold temperatures. During the procedure, we direct a stream of hyper-cooled air over the treatment area. This numbs your skin before injection, which significantly reduces discomfort.
The cooling effect also causes the veins to constrict. This reduces bruising and lowers the risk of post-treatment skin staining, which can sometimes occur with traditional injections.
Right after sclerotherapy, remain seated or lying down for several minutes. During that time, we’ll apply dressings and compression garments, which should be worn for at least seven days.
Later, you may notice mild redness, slight swelling, or small areas of bruising at the injection sites. This is normal and temporary. You might also feel mild tenderness or firmness along the treated vein as it begins to close.
Now that we’ve covered what sclerotherapy is and how it works, let’s talk about why now is the perfect time to schedule your treatment.
Sclerotherapy and other vein treatments don’t produce instant results. After treatment, your body gradually absorbs the treated veins over several weeks.
If you start in spring, you allow enough time for:
By the time summer arrives, you are already seeing results.
After treatment, Dr. Jacobs recommends compression stockings to support healing. Wearing compression in mild spring temperatures is far more comfortable than wearing it in peak summer heat.
Sun exposure after vein treatment can increase the risk of skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation.
Spring scheduling allows you to complete treatment before extended beach days, pool time, and deep summer sun. Protecting your skin during healing improves cosmetic results.
If you are bothered by spider veins or small visible surface veins, call 516-865-1234 or click here to schedule a consultation in Rockville Centre, New York.
