The cold winter months are upon us, and many individuals are lamenting the absence of the warm Southern Utah sunshine. However, there are plenty of great things about the winter season—one of which being that it is the perfect time to get sclerotherapy for spider vein removal.
Spider veins occur when veins don’t fully function as they should due to age, injury, pregnancy, or genetics and are identifiable by their spidery appearance. When veins are no longer strong enough to completely return blood to the heart, small amounts of blood pool near the surface of the skin, causing discoloration. While this usually isn’t painful, individuals can experience aching or throbbing of the surrounding area, muscle cramping, swelling, or pain when sitting or standing for long periods. To alleviate these symptoms or cosmetic embarrassment, individuals with spider veins often choose to undergo sclerotherapy to address their condition.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a procedure developed to address varicose veins and spider veins. This treatment uses injections of a special medical solution to repair damaged veins. Receiving sclerotherapy is simple; it is an outpatient procedure that takes an hour or less and does not require any anesthesia. A less-invasive option than surgical procedures meant to address the same conditions, sclerotherapy is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to reduce symptoms or feel more confident in their skin.
Why Winter?
You Have Plenty of Time to Recover
Winter is a season that usually is a little less busy than the warmer months, which is great for anyone recovering from a medical procedure. Although sclerotherapy is a minor procedure, your skin will still need time to heal. Taking it easy by relaxing on the couch snuggled in a blanket will give your body the rest it needs. What’s more, the bruising and swelling that follows your treatment will be gone by summer, so you can have the confidence to show off your legs once warmer weather comes around.
You Can Bundle Up
The cold weather can be a benefit in recovering from sclerotherapy for several reasons. First, we ask our patients to wear compression socks for one week or more following their procedure to reduce pain and bruising and to help with healing. That’s easier to do when you don’t have to worry about overheating in summer weather (plus, you’ll likely be grateful for the extra warmth!).
Additionally, you’ll likely be wearing longer pants during the winter months, which will conceal discoloration as well as protect your skin from harmful UV rays from the sun. UV rays can damage skin that’s recently undergone sclerotherapy, so cloudy winter days will make recovery that much easier.
Vein and Vascular Center in St. George, UT
Located in the beautiful red rock valley of St. George, Utah, Heart of Dixie is a medical clinic that diagnoses and treats all forms of vascular disease. Our caregivers are highly trained, professional, and friendly, assisting hundreds of patients weekly with a wide variety of conditions. Our cardiology expertise means we can manage more than just your immediate vein problem, and help you with prevention as you work toward whole-body health.
What sets Heart of Dixie apart from other clinics with a similar focus is our commitment to holistic approaches. Because vein issues are often symptoms of other underlying issues, our staff makes it a priority to understand your condition in the context of total wellness. We then help you move toward this goal by providing compassionate care and using the latest technologies and treatments.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, contact us today.
