Lasers vs. Sclerotherapy for Vein Treatment

If you struggle with spider veins, you already know the effect they can have on your self-esteem. Though this common condition does not pose a threat to your health, it impacts your appearance and consequently, your confidence. Spider veins and broken capillaries on your legs can make you reluctant to wear shorts, sundresses, and swimsuits in warmer weather, while prominent facial veins can be an embarrassment all year long.

Fortunately, as an experienced dermatologist, Dr. Seth Matarasso offers minimally invasive remedies to eliminate unwanted veins. What are the differences between lasers and sclerotherapy for vein treatment, and which one is right for you? We’ll explain more in this post.

Laser Vein Treatment

Lasers generate heat and light energy that is absorbed by the unwanted veins, causing the blood to clot and the veins to collapse. Intense pulsed light and Fraxel treatments are non-surgical options that are low-risk, easy to tolerate, and require little to no downtime. Because we can adjust the intensity of the lasers to meet your needs, they are also highly customizable. It’s safe to get laser vein treatment spaced every 30 to 60 days apart, and Dr. Matarasso will advise you on how many sessions you need to achieve your desired results.

Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical called a sclerosant into the affected veins using a small needle. After injection, the sclerosant quickly goes to work, irritating the veins and causing them to seal themselves shut. Then, your body absorbs the collapsed veins. This treatment helps rapidly fade unsightly superficial spider veins, though you may need a series of in-office appointments to eliminate them entirely.

After getting sclerotherapy, you can immediately return to work and resume other normal activities. If you sclerotherapy performed on your legs, you will need to wear specially designed compression stockings for a few days to ensure best results.

Lasers vs. Sclerotherapy: Which Is Better?

When it comes to minimizing the appearance of prominent veins, lasers and sclerotherapy share the same goal. However, some broken capillaries and spider veins that form on the face are too small to respond well to sclerotherapy. Also, in rare instances, people can be allergic to the sclerosant chemical agent. In cases like those, laser vein treatment with Fraxel or IPL can be more effective. On the other hand, lasers are not always appropriate for patients with darker skin tones due to the increased risk of discoloration in more pigmented skin.

Both lasers and sclerotherapy are relatively fast procedures that will not require downtime. You can expect to be in and out of the office in under an hour, sometimes even less than a half hour, depeding on the extent and location of the veins you’d like to treat.

Whichever vein treatment regimen you choose, you can prevent your spider veins from returning and enjoy your excellent results for longer by protecting your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Vein Treatment in San Francisco

If you’re contemplating lasers vs. sclerotherapy for vein treatment, Dr. Matarasso can evaluate you and discuss your concerns in detail during an in-person consultation. You don’t have to let spider veins affect your self-confidence and quality of life anymore. Call today at 415-362-2238 or contact us online to schedule a vein therapy consultation today.