If you’re seeking treatment for vein conditions like spider and varicose veins, you’re probably thinking it will all be fixed in just one visit. Alas, that’s just not the case. Veins don’t disappear overnight. They need a lot of TLC. The reality is, you may need more than one treatment to get the best results.
There are several treatment options available like sclerotherapy, ablations, and laser therapy. Most are non-invasive and can be performed in your doctor’s office with little to no downtime. The number of times you’ll need vein treatment varies from patient to patient. Everyone’s veins are different sizes and at different stages. Typically, the more severe your veins are, the more treatments you’ll need. Below, we look at two different vein treatments and estimate how many times you’ll need them.
Sclerotherapy
What: A common treatment for spider and small varicose veins.
How: Your doctor injects a solution into the vein, which irritates the wall of the vein and makes the veins stick together so the blood can’t flow through it anymore.
Healing Time: Spider veins usually disappear within 3 to 6 weeks. Varicose veins take 3 to 4 months.
Number of Treatments: In most cases, patients typically need 2 to 5 treatments to completely eliminate the appearance of spider veins, especially if the veins being treated are large or if new veins reappear.
Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA)
What: A treatment for varicose veins and venous insufficiency.
How: RFA procedures use a catheter that is inserted into the vein. It uses a high-frequency radio-frequency current, causing the vein to spasm and collapse.
Healing Time: Within one week, patients may start to notice a difference in the prominence of their varicose veins, but complete results may take weeks to months.
Number of Treatments: Some patients may require several procedures depending on the severity of their varicose veins or if both legs are being treated.
Follow-Up Appointments Are Important
While it’s necessary to get the proper amount of treatments done to ensure you get the best results, it’s also important to follow-up. These appointments help make sure your treatment is going in the right direction. This is also the time to address any concerns or questions you may have to your vein doctor.
If you don’t schedule follow-up appointments or receive all of your vein treatments, you may experience the reappearance of veins or even health complications.
Skill is the Key to Getting Best Results
The results you will see depend largely on the person performing the vein treatment. So make sure you find a vein specialist that performs vein treatments regularly to get the best results possible.
