As we age, the veins in our hands change with time. In many cases, the skin loses its elasticity, and the veins begin to bulge. This can be embarrassing, and it can cause your hands to appear older than they actually are. Fortunately, effective hand vein treatment is available.
How are abnormal veins in the hands treated?
Bothersome veins in the hands are typically close to the surface of the skin. Because the hands don’t require these veins for proper circulation, hand vein treatment usually focuses on forcing them to seal off and be absorbed by the body. The treatment most commonly used to eliminate hand veins is sclerotherapy.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive vein treatment procedure that is used to address abnormal veins that are embarrassing and/or cause discomfort. During the procedure, a trained surgeon uses a thin needle to inject a special solution into the patient’s abnormal veins. This solution irritates the vein’s walls, causing them to seal off. Over time, the vein will collapse and disappear from view. Sclerotherapy is sometimes performed under ultrasound guidance for improved accuracy, but this is not always necessary.
In most cases, a sclerotherapy session can be completed in as little as thirty minutes. No general anesthesia is required, and the procedure can be performed in the comfort of your doctor’s office. The procedure itself causes only mild discomfort, and most patients are able to return to their normal activities shortly after the procedure is complete. Following the treatment session, patients may notice some bruising and pigmentation changes.
Some patients need only one sclerotherapy session in order to achieve their desired result. However, other patients may require multiple sessions. Your vein doctor will help you design the treatment plan that works best for you.
How Do I Learn More?
If you are interested in learning more about hand vein treatment, the best thing you can do is to make an appointment with a vein treatment specialist. Contact the Vein & Vascular Institute today to schedule a consultation.