When facial and leg veins are treated with a laser, the laser light is absorbed
into the blood cells, and causes the blood to coagulate.

This leaves the blood vessel walls unsupported, causing them to collapse.
During the healing process, the blood vessels dissolve and are eliminated.

Current laser treatment of leg veins allows for the elimination of all blood
vessels; you can leave our office without bruises after you are treated and
return to work. Large leg veins may need to be treated with sclerotherapy.

Laser removal; of leg veins is painless, leaves no bruises, and is very effective.
Most small to medium leg veins can be treated with great effectiveness,
minimal discomfort and no side effects.

Sclerotherapy is used to eliminate unsightly veins and larger blood vessels. In
this procedure a sclerosing solution is injected into a blood vessel with a tiny
needle. This causes the lining of blood vessels to swell and shrink thereby
eliminating the incompetent veins. From 10 - 30 blood vessels can be injected
per session. Discomfort is minimal because the needles used are very small.

Redness and bruising following treatment usually disappear within a few weeks.
You may also experience an aching feeling in your legs for the first day or two
following treatment. We recommend wearing support hose for at least 1 week
after treatment.

Although you should see some immediate improvement, full results may not be
apparent for about 3 months as the body's natural healing process causes
the veins to dissolve.

Though rare, the possible side effects of sclerotherapy include brown marks on
the skin and/or allergic reaction to the sclerosing agent and ulcers. These are
more common in patients who smoke.

While the veins treated by sclerotherapy will not come back, new blood vessels
will appear over time.


N. Bethesda office: call 301-984-3000;   Frederick office: call 301-694-9500