Sclerotherapy Preparation: What to Do Before Your Appointment

1. Sclerotherapy sits in a practical middle ground: more effective than creams and home remedies, less disruptive than surgery, and tailored to the visible veins that bother you most. Whether you are planning sclerotherapy for spider veins on the ankles or reticular veins on the calves, the days leading up to your session play a bigger role than most patients realize. Good preparation influences comfort, reduces side effects, and supports better sclerotherapy results. I have treated hundreds of legs with liquid and foam sclerotherapy, including ultrasound guided injections for deeper feeders. The patients who prepared well were the ones who recovered steadily, needed fewer touch-ups, and felt in control from day one. This guide gathers the practical pieces that matter most: what to share during your consultation, how to time the appointment around travel and events, the pre-visit habits that help, and the small mistakes that can slow healing. It is written for anyone considering sclerotherapy for spider veins, blue reticular veins, or small varicose branches, including men who stand on concrete all day, runners with ankle telangiectasia, and women who notice new clusters after pregnancy. Know what sclerotherapy can and cannot do Sclerotherapy is an injection therapy that closes problem veins from the inside. A clinician injects a sclerosant, either a liquid or a foam, into the targeted vessel. The solution irritates the inner lining, the vein collapses, then the body breaks it down over weeks. Think of it as strategic pruning of a faulty micro network that contributes to those red or blue lines at the surface. There are flavors of the technique. Micro sclerotherapy is used for spider veins and small reticular veins. Foam sclerotherapy works well for larger, tortuous segments and can be guided with ultrasound when the target is not visible through the skin. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy is particularly helpful for feeder veins that behave like supply lines. By closing the feeder, you prevent benefits of needle sclerotherapy new spider veins from blossoming along the route. Many clinics use a mix of methods during the same session. It is important to align expectations. Sclerotherapy vein treatment improves appearance and symptoms like aching or itching in localized areas. It does not replace surgery or endovenous ablation for severe truncal venous reflux. If you have prominent varicose veins feeding from the great saphenous system, you may need a duplex ultrasound and a plan that treats the source first, then uses sclerotherapy for tidy finishing work. Patients who try to treat large, refluxing trunks with sclerotherapy alone often see temporary results that fade within months. When the method is matched to the vein type, sclerotherapy is highly effective and long lasting. The consultation is part one of your preparation Your sclerotherapy appointment begins long before the needle touches skin. A good consultation creates a map of your vein health, not just a snapshot of one spot. Bring a list of medications and supplements, even the ones you buy over the counter. Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fish oil, ginkgo, and high dose vitamin E can raise bruising risk. Prescription

2. anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs need individualized guidance. This is not a blanket prohibition, but your physician should know the doses and reasons. Describe symptoms as well as appearance. Do your legs feel heavy by evening? Do you see swelling around the ankles? Does a specific cluster burn after hot showers? These clues guide the choice between liquid sclerotherapy, Columbus Vascular Vein & Aesthetics in New Baltimore foam sclerotherapy, or ultrasound guided injections. If you have had previous vein procedures, bring operative notes or at least dates and locations treated. Old photos, even phone snapshots, help track sclerotherapy before and after changes. Share your history of clots, pregnancies, hormone therapy, and migraines with aura. A personal or strong family history of deep vein thrombosis changes risk calculus and may shift the plan. Migraine with aura can be relevant if the physician uses foam sclerotherapy, since microbubbles may trigger transient visual symptoms in a very small subset of patients. None of these are automatic disqualifiers, but they influence technique and safety choices. Ask about compression. The brand matters less than fit and pressure. For most spider and reticular vein work, 20 to 30 mmHg thigh-high or pantyhose style stockings provide the right balance. Calf-only stockings can leave thigh veins under-supported if the treatment area sits above the knee. If you have never worn compression before, try them for a day prior non-invasive vein repair through sclerotherapy to the appointment to learn how to put them on and to check for pinching or rolling. A patient who shows up with stockings that stay put is already ahead. Timing your session around real life Sclerotherapy is an outpatient, office-based procedure, and most people return to daily activities the same day. That said, you will not want to wear shorts right after sclerotherapy for legs, especially if you bruise easily. Redness and small welts fade over 48 hours. Bruising can linger 1 to 3 weeks. Tanned skin makes pigment changes more noticeable, so avoid sun exposure for at least 2 weeks after treatment. If you are planning a beach trip or a wedding, schedule your session 4 to 6 weeks beforehand, longer if you bruise at the drop of a hat. Long flights are not ideal right after sclerotherapy injections. Many clinicians advise avoiding flights over 4 hours for one week. If travel is unavoidable, you can mitigate the clot risk by walking the aisle hourly, wearing compression during the flight, staying hydrated, and avoiding sedating drinks. Athletes and fitness instructors can keep moving, but you will be advised to skip high-heat activities and heavy leg day for 48 hours. Saunas, hot yoga, and hot tubs dilate vessels and can increase inflammation. Walking is encouraged. I tell patients to plan walks the same day, at least 15 to 30 minutes, and to keep that habit daily for the first week. What to do in the week before Preparation has two goals. First, you want veins that are calm and easy to see. Second, you want to reduce factors that worsen bruising or staining. Sunburned or freshly tanned legs are harder to evaluate and treat. Apply sunscreen diligently in the week leading up to the visit, and avoid self-tanner for several days so the physician can judge the natural hue and capillary patterns. Hydration matters more than you might think. Dehydrated veins collapse and hide. Drink water steadily, especially the day before and the morning of the appointment. If you have an early slot, a light breakfast helps. Low blood sugar and nerves are a common recipe for lightheadedness. If your clinician does not advise otherwise, pause non-essential blood thinning supplements for 5 to 7 days. That includes high-dose fish oil, https://batchgeo.com/map/sclerotherapy-new-baltimore-mi turmeric capsules, ginkgo, garlic pills, and the like. If you take aspirin for cardiac reasons or prescription anticoagulants for medical indications, do not stop without explicit instructions from the prescribing doctor. Shave the treatment area a day before, not the morning of, to avoid skin irritation. Skip heavy moisturizers, oils, or body makeup on the day of the appointment. Bring clean compression stockings with you. If you do not own them yet, many offices can measure and supply them on site, but having your own pair ensures you have the right fit for the commute home. What to wear and bring on the day Choose comfortable clothes. Loose shorts or a skirt give access to the entire leg. Avoid tight leggings that are difficult to remove and put back on over fresh injection sites. Wear shoes you can walk in. You will be encouraged to take a brisk

3. walk afterward, so think supportive sneakers rather than flip-flops. Bring a list of questions, along with any pictures you have taken of your legs in brighter lighting. Small veins can look bolder at night or after a shower, and photos capture these day-to-day changes. If you have compression stockings already, bring them washed and ready. A cooling gel pack in your freezer at home is handy for the evening, but you do not need to bring one to the clinic. If you are anxious around needles, mention it at check-in. Experienced clinicians have small adjustments that help: positioning, slower injections, topical anesthetic for select spots, cool air on the skin. A patient who breathes steadily and feels informed about the process tends to tolerate sclerotherapy therapy far better. What happens inside the room Patients often relax once they understand the sclerotherapy process step by step. The clinician cleans the area and maps the targets. For spider veins and small reticular veins, micro sclerotherapy uses fine needles. You will feel a quick sting and sometimes a mild burning along the vein path that lasts a few seconds. Foam sclerotherapy spreads more easily through larger segments and may be used for blue, ropey reticular veins. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy comes into play when the feeder sits deeper under the skin. Real-time imaging allows precise placement, then the sclerosant displaces blood, contacts the vein wall, and starts the collapse. How many injections? It varies. One session can treat several clusters, often 10 to 40 small sticks for diffuse spider veins. The solution amount is measured carefully. Large doses do not equal better results. A careful series of smaller injections typically yields smoother clearance with fewer side effects. The appointment usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Right after, the clinician applies compression. Stockings go on while you are still on the table. They keep the treated veins closed, reduce trapped blood that leads to staining, and limit swelling. You will be asked to walk in the hallway or outside before you drive home. Immediate aftercare begins with your preparation Good preparation makes aftercare simpler. If you arranged a quiet evening and have your stockings, your ice pack, and a plan for a short walk, you are on track. Most people feel like they had a bad sunburn in a few zones. It settles within hours to a day. Over-the-counter pain relief is rarely needed. If you do take something, favor acetaminophen over NSAIDs in the first 48 hours unless your physician says otherwise, since NSAIDs can promote bruising in some people. You may notice small bumps or welts along treated lines. These fade in a day or two. Bruises show up in slower waves, sometimes peaking by day 3, then fading across 1 to 3 weeks. Hyperpigmentation can occur when iron from trapped blood stains the skin. This is more common in the lower legs and ankles. Wearing compression faithfully and walking daily reduce that risk. If you see a tender, cord-like area a few days later, it may be superficial phlebitis or a trapped coagulum. Clinicians often relieve this with a quick needle drainage at a follow-up, a simple remedy that accelerates healing. The small things that make a big difference A few practical tips, learned the hard way, deliver outsized benefits. Switch to loose socks for a week if you typically wear tight bands that indent your calves. Narrow bands can obstruct flow and leave new marks just below the band. Apply sunscreen daily over treated zones once the initial redness calms, especially if you will be outdoors. Sun amplifies any residual brown pigment. If you love hot baths, take them warm, not hot, for the first week. Heat dilates vessels and can make the treated sites throb. Plan your workouts with care. Keep walking, use the bike or elliptical lightly, and avoid maximal squats and deadlifts for 48 hours. Runners sclerotherapy can resume easy miles after a day or two, with stockings on for the first few runs if your clinician advises. Avoid sauna and hot yoga for 1 week. Skip topical irritants like retinoids or strong exfoliants on treated skin for several days. Understanding risks and how preparation reduces them Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment with a strong safety profile in experienced hands. Common side effects include temporary redness, mild swelling, itching, bruising, and small areas of hyperpigmentation. Matting, a fine blush

4. of new vessels, can appear near treated sites. It is caused by local vasodilation and hormone or inflammatory influences. A clinician can address matting with further micro sclerotherapy once the area settles. Less common events include superficial thrombophlebitis, skin blistering if sclerosant strays into very superficial tissues, or ulcers with intra-arterial injection, which is rare and avoidable with careful technique. Foam sclerotherapy can trigger transient visual disturbances or a migraine in susceptible individuals. Serious complications like deep vein thrombosis or allergic reactions are uncommon, especially when doses, technique, and aftercare are tailored to you. Preparation lowers risks. Honest disclosure about medications and history informs dose and choice of sclerosant. Hydration and calm skin reduce injection difficulty. Compression ready to wear decreases trapped blood. Sun avoidance before and after reduces staining. A walk scheduled the same day lowers clot risk and supports circulation. Sclerotherapy vs laser and other options, briefly Patients often ask whether to choose sclerotherapy or laser for spider veins. Surface laser can help tiny, blush-sized vessels, especially on the face. On the legs, sclerotherapy remains the most effective first-line option for most spider and reticular veins because leg skin and vessel depth limit laser penetration. Some clinics combine both methods, using sclerotherapy for blue feeders and a vascular laser to pick off the tiny red twigs that remain. Surgery is reserved for large varicose trunks or when ultrasound shows significant reflux that non-invasive sclerotherapy cannot address alone. Foam versus liquid sclerotherapy is not a contest with a universal winner. Foam has an edge for larger, slow-flow segments and for ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, since it displaces blood and contacts more vein wall. Liquid micro sclerotherapy is elegant for fine spider veins and superficial networks with fast flow. Experienced clinicians switch between them during a single session. Your preparation is the same in either case. Cost, sessions, and realistic timelines Sclerotherapy pricing varies by region and clinic, often charged per session, per vial, or by time. In many cities, a session ranges from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars. Insurance rarely covers sclerotherapy for cosmetic spider veins, though it may contribute if there is documented medical necessity such as bleeding, recurrent dermatitis, or confirmed venous insufficiency. Expect a series of sessions rather than a one-and-done fix, especially if both legs have multiple clusters. Many patients need 2 to 4 sessions spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. You will start to see sclerotherapy results in 2 to 6 weeks for spider veins, with continued clearing over several months. Sclerotherapy is effective and long lasting in the treated veins. Those veins are gone for good. New veins can appear over time because genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors continue. Think in terms of maintenance. A yearly touch-up visit suits many patients, much like dental cleaning for your circulation’s surface branches. Preparation for touch-ups mirrors the first session, only easier because you already know the drill. How to think about compression, from someone who has worn it The first week is the commitment zone. Most clinics advise continuous wear for 24 to 48 hours, then daytime wear for 5 to 7 days. Putting stockings on is easier if you do it first thing in the morning when legs are less swollen. Use rubber gloves to grip without snagging. If you chose thigh-highs, check that the silicone band is not rolling. If it is, switch to pantyhose style or use a light adhesive roll-on designed for compression wear. Stockings should feel snug but not painful or numb. If your toes tingle or your foot color changes, remove and try again.

5. Compliance predicts outcomes. Patients who wear compression as directed see less bruising, less staining, and fewer painful cords. It is not forever, but it matters in this short window. Common mistakes that slow healing A few errors show up repeatedly in the clinic. Tanning the legs within days of treatment exaggerates pigment changes and makes photos misleading. Skipping walks after the appointment can leave more trapped blood and tenderness. Wearing tight bands that dig into the calf creates new lines that look like veins and can worsen swelling below the band. Restarting heavy deadlifts or hot yoga too soon increases inflammation and throbbing. Popping NSAIDs liberally for soreness boosts bruising in some people. Each mistake is avoidable if you plan ahead. Sclerotherapy preparation checklist for the day before and day of Confirm your appointment time, bring your compression stockings, and lay out loose shorts or a skirt with comfortable walking shoes. Avoid heavy lotions, oils, and self-tanner; shave the day before, not the morning of. Hydrate well, eat a light meal, and bring your medication and supplement list. Pause non-essential blood-thinning supplements as advised; do not stop prescriptions without physician guidance. Plan a 15 to 30 minute walk right after the session and a calm rest of the day with your stockings on. What to expect in the first two weeks Plan on subtle changes day by day rather than an overnight transformation. The first two days bring mild redness and bumps along injection tracks. Compression feels snug, then normal as you adapt. Walking eases achiness. By day 3 to 7, bruises are most visible. Some veins look darker before they fade, an effect of hemoglobin breakdown. Tender cords may appear if a segment sealed firmly, a normal step in the sclerotherapy healing process. Warm compresses after day 3 can help, 10 minutes a few times daily, unless your clinician prefers continued cool packs. By week 2, most spider veins have softened in color, and surrounding skin looks calmer. If a dark spot bothers you or a firm tender line persists, call the clinic. A quick drainage is often the fix. Photos help track progress. Take them in the same lighting, with the same camera distance, every week or two. Patients often forget how bold the cluster was at baseline. Side-by-sides make the sclerotherapy before and after journey concrete. When to call the clinic There are times you should not wait. Call if you notice rapidly spreading redness with fever, severe calf pain with swelling on one side, shortness of breath, or new neurologic symptoms. These are rare but important flags. More

6. commonly, patients call about trapped blood or a localized tender bump. The office can bring you in for a quick check. Early attention to small issues leads to smoother recovery. Final thoughts from the treatment room Sclerotherapy remains the best sledgehammer for leg spider veins and reticular feeders because it is precise, repeatable, and backed by decades of refinement. Preparation is the quiet partner that makes it work better. The best prepared patients show up hydrated, skip the tanning bed, wear stockings that fit, and block their calendar for an unrushed walk afterward. They know that sclerotherapy for spider veins is a process rather than a dramatic reveal, that sclerotherapy pros and cons balance differently when deep reflux is present, and that a few touch-ups are part of normal vein maintenance. If you carry that mindset into your appointment, you will get the most out of this minimally invasive treatment. You will give the sclerosant a calm canvas to work on, guide your circulation into the right channels with compression and walking, and stack the deck for clear, steady results. That is how sclerotherapy becomes not just an esthetic procedure, but a thoughtful care plan for your vein health. Driving directions to Columbus Vascular Vein & Aesthetics (B) This map was created by a user Learn how to create your own