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Sclerotherapy (Unsightly Veins): Cosmetic Surgery Treatments
By M. A. Fulmar

How often have you opened your closet last summer, looking for that perfect short dress or skirt to wear, only to shy away at the last minute because of unsightly veins that seem to have appeared overnight on your legs? Perhaps you have more than once begged off the scheduled trip to the beach simply because you no longer feel comfortable in your bathing suit. Do not fret, because you are not alone. Millions suffer from unsightly veins that have them confined to long pants in the summer, long sleeves in eighty degree weather, and the beach chair on the sidelines of the pool. The venous disorders that are wreaking such havoc are known as spider veins and varicose veins. Varicose veins are blood vessels that literally stand out. Quite often they appear to have a rope-lie quality to them. They may appear as dark blue bulges under the skin, and may also cause some pain. Spider veins, on the other hand, do not stand out like the varicose veins, yet they are unsightly groupings of bluish, reddish, or even purplish veins that are close to the skin's surface and discolor portions of the limb. Yet weathering your veins is entirely possible, especially with the latest in cosmetic surgery treatments.

A procedure referred to as sclerotherapy, for example, will provide much welcome relief for those suffering from these unsightly varicose veins. The procedure actually sounds worse than it is. An irritant is injected directly into the unsightly vein. Its purpose is to cause the vein to shut down from the inside and then be absorbed into the tissue that surrounds it. Upon injection of the irritant, a compressed bandage or stocking is applied to further aid the substance in causing the vein to collapse. For those patients with extremely large varicose veins, another possible treatment option is veins stripping; this process, however, is riskier than the above mentioned therapy and it also requires a hospital stay and general anesthesia.

Spider veins are a lot easier to treat, and do not require any recovery time at all. As a matter of fact, they can be treated non-invasively with a laser that simply penetrates the top layer of skin and removes them once and for all. Should the spider veins be of larger size, sclerotherapy may have to be employed to do away with them. For the smaller ones, laser therapy will usually do the trick. It is important to note that spider vein treatments do not guarantee immediate results but instead warn the prospective patient that two or perhaps three sessions will be required until a noticeable lightening of the veins is achieved. Of course, it is important to remember that even though these veins will be collapsed and absorbed by the surrounding tissue, the formation of new spider veins is entirely possible and perhaps even likely.

Like all medical procedures, these treatments do provide some risk to the patient, and it is imperative to discuss them with your physician prior to committing to treatment. Short term effects, such as swelling or pronounced redness, are only cosmetic in nature and will disappear given some time. Long terms side effects, however, may be incurred due to the use of anesthesia, or even the use of the skin irritant which may cause allergic reactions in some people. Another side effect to carefully consider is the possibility of pigment irregularities, leaving the treated area to be more visible than its surrounding flesh, even though the unsightly veins themselves have disappeared. In order to avoid any far-reaching dangers or even side effects, you must discuss your medical conditions, if you have any, with your doctor. This is especially important for those who suffer from kidney diseases and also diabetes, as both illnesses may cause adverse reactions to the treatment with irritants. Yet these unwanted effects are few and far between, and many potential patients feel that the lure of healthy, young-looking skin far outweighs the risk the treatments may hold. Thus, if you and your physician agree that you are a good candidate for the treatment, this opportunity may well allow you to open up the forgotten drawers of your wardrobe again and unpack the shorts, swimsuit, and short skirts that so far you have kept in mothballs.

Author Details:
M. A. Fulmar, copywriter for various websites including, Cosmetic Surgery, Skin Care and Cosmetic Surgery Info 4U

Article Source: Articles from Simply Top

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