Roadmaps show you where to go, whether it’s for a trip to see family, a vacation destination, or an adventure on the open road.
Roadmaps on your legs are a whole different story. They show you where you’ve been, health-wise. And they can’t be folded up and put in your glovebox or closed like that app on your phone. They’re always visible at the tennis club, on the lake, or at the grandkid’s house.
That’s why Florida Lakes Vein Center offers sclerotherapy in North Port, FL. Our team of skilled providers can help you permanently remove those twisty-turny spider-web lines of red and blue. Our sclerotherapy treatment can also address varicose veins—those large, knotted veins on the legs that bulge out from the skin.
Contact us today for a consultation, or call us in North Port/Wellen Park at 941-777-7771. If you’re not sure that spider veins or varicose veins are the problem, use our free online virtual Vein Screening Tool to see if a personal consultation should be on the road ahead.
Read on about how sclerotherapy can relieve your itching, burning, or unsightly veins.
What Causes Spider Veins?
Spider veins appear just under the skin when small blood vessels are damaged. Blood backs up, putting more pressure on the vein. Over time, the vein walls weaken and bulge. Because spider veins are near the skin’s surface, they’re easier to see. They don’t usually cause the skin to stick out like varicose veins do.
According to a government report, most adults will develop some form of spider veins in their life. They usually show up on adults between 30 and 50 years old and continue from there. 40% of women have spider veins, with up to 80% by age 80.
There are several contributing causes for spider veins:
Inactivity & Standing
Your day may consist of long periods of sitting or standing. This can cause blood to “back up” and put added pressure on veins, causing them to eventually bulge.
Hormone Changes
Sorry ladies, but it’s just a fact: hormone fluctuations also increase the possibility of spider veins. Estrogen hormones make veins dilate. This dilation pulls at valves and weakens them over time, causing a backup of blood.
Lifestyle and History Risk Factors
Other factors increase your likelihood of developing spider veins, including:
- Aging. As we get older, our vascular system naturally weakens. This affects the strength of our vein and capillary walls as well as the valves keeping blood flow regulated.
- Obesity. Extra weight causes increases in blood pressure. This squeezes vein walls and damages valves.
- Smoking. The chemicals that smoking introduces into your bloodstream constrict your veins, increasing pressure and causing blood to pool in these vessels.
- Alcohol. Alcohol stimulates blood flow. Over time, this can cause blood vessels to enlarge, which might not seem bad—except that the valves can’t keep pace with the increased volume, and blood backs up.
- History of Blood Clots. If you’re prone to blood clots, these cause extra pressure in the blood vessels behind the clot—which can cause spider veins.
What causes varicose veins?
Varicose veins are those large, knotted veins that bulge out from the skin on your legs. They’re not aesthetically pleasing, but that’s not the most pressing issue. Varicose veins cause aching pain and further discomfort when they rub against clothing.
Two major factors cause varicose veins to appear:
1. Poor Blood Circulation
If your blood isn’t properly finding its way through your vascular system, it can weaken veins, causing them to become varicose veins.
2. Vein Damage
Maybe you’ve had surgery, inflammation issues, a deeper infection, or an injury on your leg. These have the potential to impair the valves in your vein(s) and cause blood to flow backward. The result? Varicose veins.
Other Factors Contributing to Varicose Veins
- Genetics
- Standing for long periods
- Excess weight
- Aging
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Pregnancy
- Hormone medications
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Orthopedic surgery
- General surgery
Related topic: A quick look at fast facts about spider vein treatment in North Port, FL.
No Vein, All Gain: How Sclerotherapy Works
Sclerotherapy in North Port, FL, involves your Florida Lakes Vein Center provider injecting a chemical solution into the spider vein or varicose vein. This solution causes the vein walls to scar.
As they swell and stick together, they seal shut. This forces the blood flow to move to healthier veins. The spider or varicose vein collapses, fading from view over the course of the next few weeks. Some veins may need more than one sclerotherapy treatment to fully resolve the issue.
Sclerotherapy Highlights
- Number of Treatments: 4 or more
- Appointment Length: 30 to 45 minutes
- Downtime: None
- Compression Time: 24 to 48 hours
- Anesthetic: Topical lidocaine spray if needed
- Driver Required: No
Our Process
At Florida Lakes Vein Center, our sclerotherapy in North Port, FL, provides a comfortable and surprisingly easy way to erase spider veins and address less complicated varicose veins.
Step 1: Consultation
We begin with a consultation. Many new patients use our free virtual Vein Screening Tool to see if they’re a good candidate for sclerotherapy. However, most can see the roadmap/spider webs on their legs clearly enough, and they either contact us online or call us at 941-777-7771.
During the consultation, one of our providers will meet with you in person to fully discuss your situation, symptoms, and medical history. They will also examine your legs, so wear something comfortable. You’ll be able to ask any questions, point out your concerns, and give more details to help us better understand your concerns.
Your vein specialist will ask about symptoms of venous issues in your legs, including:
- Leg heaviness
- Tired legs
- Restless legs
- Itching or burning skin
- Swelling
- Aching/cramping/throbbing
- Skin discoloration or texture changes
- Open wounds or sores
We’ll also ask about any family history of vein disease as well as your lifestyle and personal activities.
Step 2: Hunting Spiders
When your consultation is complete and you’re a likely candidate for sclerotherapy in North Port, FL, we will schedule an ultrasound to examine the veins and surrounding tissue and to provide an exact diagnosis.
The ultrasound is completely painless and noninvasive, and it gives us the information we need to put together a proper and effective treatment plan.
Step 3: Your Treatment
Each patient’s vein treatment process is adapted to their situation, but usually, we can move quickly from diagnosis to treatment. Sclerotherapy is minimally invasive, convenient, and suitable for anyone (with some contraindications listed further below).
Using a hypodermic needle, your provider will inject a liquid called “sclerosant” directly into the spider or varicose veins. This will cause the veins to close, rerouting that blood to healthy veins. For larger veins, we may also use ultrasound during the procedure to ensure maximum accuracy and efficacy.
Step 4: Aftercare
We’ll have you relax for about 15 minutes or so after your treatment. This allows us to make sure there’s no reaction to the sclerosant. Once that’s done, you’re good to drive yourself home and go about your regular daily activities.
There is typically minimal downtime after treatment, but the veins appear darker for a week or so. You may also experience slight bruising, swelling, and sensitivity for several weeks. After treatment, your skin is more sensitive to the sun, so we advise avoiding exposure for a few weeks. In most cases, the treated spider or varicose veins disappear after 6 to 8 weeks.
We highly recommend the following to achieve best results:
- Wear support hosiery or compression wraps for 7 days. This helps keep the treated veins empty so that your body can naturally heal and reabsorb them.
- Refrain from taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory medications.
- Don’t take hot baths/showers or get into whirlpools/saunas for 7 days.
- Refrain from using tanning beds for 3 or more weeks.
FAQs
Will insurance cover sclerotherapy?
Whether or not your insurance covers sclerotherapy in North Port, FL, depends on a few factors. You will need to check with your insurance provider for coverage information. If insurance doesn’t cover sclerotherapy, treatment costs $350 per visit.
Will sclerotherapy hurt?
No, sclerotherapy shouldn’t hurt. Most patients find it very tolerable, without need of any form of anesthetic. You should only feel the small pinch of the needle when injecting the medication.
If you have extra sensitivity to needles, be sure to discuss that with your provider so that we can customize the treatment to suit your needs.
Who makes a good candidate for sclerotherapy?
Any adult in relatively good health who exhibits spider veins or simpler varicose veins makes a good candidate for sclerotherapy in North Port, FL.
You may not be a good candidate for sclerotherapy if you are confined to a bed. Walking is very important for keeping blood flow moving in the legs, and it is essential for supporting your sclerotherapy results. It also helps prevent spider veins and varicose veins from forming.
Let Us Create Your Spider Vein Treatment Plan
Contact Florida Lakes Vein Center in Wellen Park today for a personal consultation. Together, we can determine the best roadmap to address your spider veins and/or varicose veins.
Compassionate Care That’s Always in Vein
Our expert team has helped more than 10,000 patients across the region with their spider veins and other diseases. We can help you, too.
Experienced vein specialists Lauren Fazenbaker, PA-C, Raeann Fultz, PA-C, Melissa Fleck, M.D., Francesca Mertan, PA-C, and T.C. Lackey, II D.O. make up a team of compassionate professionals who value your voice, your health, and your peace of mind. Like the map says, when it comes to the best vein care—“you are here.”
Try our free online Vein Screening Tool!