Sclerotherapy vs. Laser Treatment: Choosing the Right Option

If you have developed varicose veins on your legs, you will like to get rid of them. But there will be a question in your mind, whether podiatrists will suggest laser treatment, or sclerotherapy to treat these veins. 

When it comes to restoring smooth, and clear skin, and removing varicose veins, podiatrists will say that laser therapy and sclerotherapy are both very good options. 

While podiatrists will say about these two treatments for varicose veins, you will need to assess, which is the best treatment for varicose veins, and which will suit you in the end. 

While you need to decide which treatment is suitable for your varicose veins, you will need to find out the basics of varicose veins in the first instance. 

About Varicose Veins

While blood vessels make up the venous system of your body, they are responsible for transporting blood to the heart. When these blood vessels get damaged, and create a one–way valve, they result in the blood to pool in the veins. 

The veins will gradually twist and enlarge, which results in varicose veins. While the varicose veins are particularly found in feet and legs, they are common in women. While there are some symptoms like swelling, aching, and itching, these varicose veins are generally harmful. 

Sclerotherapy

When it comes to standard treatment of varicose veins, podiatrists will consider sclerotherapy for the treatment. Podiatrists will inject a sclerosing agent into the troublesome veins, as you will know that it is a minimally invasive procedure. 

While the procedure will close the veins, the process will irritate your veins. While the blood will be redirected to healthy veins, there will be a stopping of the flow of blood. While these veins will fade away from view over time, they will be reabsorbed by the body. 

While podiatrists will place no anesthesia, there will be little discomfort in this procedure. Podiatrists will take more than one treatment to alleviate varicose veins, as they apply sclerotherapy. 

If sclerotherapy does not give you ideal results, podiatrists will opt on- surgical options for varicose veins.

Laser Vein Removal

Podiatrists will reduce the appearance of varicose veins, as they will apply a laser vein removal procedure to rectify your condition. Podiatrists will provide multiple laser treatments, as they give you the desired results. 

While the treatment time may vary on the number of veins that are to be treated, the laser treatment will take about twenty minutes. While the laser delivers light energy on the affected vein, the veins will get absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood vessel. 

While the veins will shrink and disappear over time, the laser energy will cause the blood within the blood vessel to clot. 

Sclerotherapy or Laser Treatment: Which Is Right?

When it comes to laser treatment for varicose veins, and sclerotherapy, you will know that they have the same goals. While these two therapies will eventually seal and shut your varicose veins, they will irritate the damaged veins. 

While your blood will reroute itself to healthy veins, the damaged veins will no longer work, as they are closed. While the treated veins will gradually break apart, and be absorbed by nearby tissues, the circulation will return to normal. 

There are some differences between laser vein treatment and sclerotherapy, which are denoted below.  While laser vein treatment uses highly focussed light energy to damage veins, sclerotherapy will apply chemical injection to close your veins. 

When sclerotherapy is used for small varicose veins, laser treatment is used for medium to large varicose veins. Podiatrists may use a combination of both, as they will analyze your condition. You may get a suitable result in the end. 

It is seen that both these treatments do not create any scarring, and are minimally invasive. You will be able to return to normal activities immediately. 

Recovery Time 

The recovery time for both these treatments is dependent on the extent of the diseased veins, and size. When you are undergoing sclerotherapy and laser treatment, you will know that there are certain benefits of sclerotherapy and laser treatments as well. 

Once you are done with both treatments, you will be asked to stand and walk around. There will be a reduced risk of blood clots. You will be able to return to normal life, once both these procedures are over. 

You will be asked to avoid strenuous and over-execution exercises for three to five days, once the treatment is over. While there may be mild bruising and discomfort, such issues will be resolved within two to six weeks. 

On the way to recovery, you will be asked to wear compression stockings, for a week. 

Results

When it comes to the removal of varicose by these two procedures, you may think about the results. It is seen that sclerotherapy will give you quicker results, as this procedure takes less time to close the veins. 

Results will come after two to three weeks, once you undergo laser treatment. 

Final Words 

When it comes to sclerotherapy and laser treatments, both are effective varicose vein treatments. Podiatrists will diagnose you and decide the perfect treatment at the end.