Why Winter Is the Best Time for Sclerotherapy
Are you secretly cheering for colder weather in North Carolina that will allow you to cover spider veins and varicose veins with long pants? It’s okay, we get it. Cute shorts, flouncy skirts and bathing suits tend to lose their appeal when you feel subconscious about those bluish, bulging lines criss-crossing in plain view. Well, we have good news — Winter is the best time for Sclerotherapy when you are thinking about timing your plastic surgery in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and the Greater Triangle area. Say goodbye to those spider veins and get your legs ready for the warm weather next year.
What Is Sclerotherapy?
Spider veins are those bothersome thin, bluish lines that branch out like a tree or spider web (hence the name) across your legs, back or face. An estimated 30-60% of women and men, starting at age 18 and peaking between ages 50-60, find themselves with these squiggly lines. While spider veins are not typically painful or harmful like varicose veins, they are an annoyance that you don’t have to live with. Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure commonly used to get rid of spider veins.
Sclerotherapy uses a fine needle to inject a concentrated hypertonic saline solution directly into the problematic vein. This treatment effectively seals off the damaged vein, allowing blood circulation to return to the healthy, working veins. A typical patient will require three treatments spaced 3-4 weeks apart to get at the root cause of the problem. Performed in one of our Tannan Plastic Surgery procedure rooms by our highly experienced Sclerotherapist, Kristie Foushee, RN, the procedure takes around an hour. Most patients have minimal discomfort and bruising following treatment.
Why is Winter the Best time for Sclerotherapy?
Have you heard the saying “Summer legs are made in Winter?” The colder months are a time for rebuilding. This may include exercise to target areas of your body, or maybe a new eating routine with the goal of a lower BMI and slimmer waistline by Summer. It’s also the perfect time to target those spider veins so you can heal in time to let the legs bask in the sun. We asked our Nurse Injector Kristie Foushee for the low down. Read on to learn her 3 Pro Tips on why Winter is the best time for Sclerotherapy:
Pro Tip #1: Compression Garments are Comfortable in the Cold Weather
Compression stockings are recommended in the days following each of your Sclerotherapy procedures. While these medical hose have come a long way in cute fabrics, they are thick and can be very hot. In the Winter, hidden under clothing, this is a plus! Compression hose are typically worn for 3 days following your Sclerotherapy procedures. The compression offered by these stockings enhances the results of treatment by limiting blood flow back into the treated vessels and facilitating resorption of the damaged vessels by the body. Patients also report decreased side effects, such as pain and bruising, when wearing compression stockings.
Pro Tip #2: Recovery is Discreet with Long Pants
Winter is the perfect time for healing after your Sclerotherapy procedure. After treatment, if you experience one of the possible side effects like swelling, bruising or redness, your Winter wardrobe with cozy pants will hide these more easily. Another plus we hear from our patients has to do with exercise levels. Most people are more active during the summer months versus the winter months. We recommend not engaging in strenuous activities for 3 to 5 days after your procedure, making Winter the ideal time for this treatment.
Pro Tip #3: Maximize the Time for Vein Absorption
This brings us to our last reason why Winter is the best time for Sclerotherapy… recovery! While the treatments are minimally invasive, the Winter months will give your body that added time and atmosphere to absorb the old veins and fully recover. Exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided. The gray days of winter months and full coverage clothing will make this easier. You may be instructed to avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time the first few days after the procedure. When you do sit, to elevate your feet above the level of your heart. So, take advantage of the colder weather, grab a fuzzy blanket and a good book, and get to healing. Before you know it, you will be ready to show off your legs next Spring!
Let us help you kiss your unsightly spider veins goodbye and welcome your summer legs. Call (919) 797-0996 now to schedule a consultation with Kristie Foushee at Tannan Plastic Surgery!
