Children are so wonderful, aren't they?  They truly light up our lives with their shining eyes and smiling faces.  So wonderful, in fact, that we can almost overlook the changes they cause to our bodies.  Loose, sagging skin, stretch marks, and little winding leg veins are a small price to pay for the glory of motherhood, right?  Um, right?

Thankfully, we can improve those (ahem) little issues that occur after the little munchkin is born.  Let's talk about sclerotherapy, which is a procedure performed in the office for small varicose veins on the legs.  After all, this is sizzling south florida, where the dress code is: the less on, the better!

Sclerotherapy involves injecting solutions into varicose veins to "close the veins down."  They do this by irritating or damaging the lining of the veins enough to form a small clot, which over time, will be replaced by tissue.  Different agents are injected to acheive this, including: hypertonic saline, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS), polidocanol, and glycerin.  Currently, STS and polidocanol (Asclera) are FDA approved for the treatment.  Which solution to use depends on the physician's preference and the size of the vein being injected.

The treatment session usually lasts 30 min-45 min.  There very minimal discomfort during the procedure, which is often dependent on which solution is injected.  At pdmd, we favor Asclera, as it is easily tolerated with no downtime.  Compression stockings are sometimes worn after the treatment.  Usually, 2-3 sessions are recommended for best results, but veins will improve even after the first treatment.  Pregnant or nursing women should not have sclerotherapy.

Having kids doesn't mean you're destined to hide your legs for the rest of your life!