You finally book the treatment for the spider veins. Then you look at your calendar and you've got a full week at the desk, a pool party on Saturday and a beach trip you've been planning for months.
Most patients will be asking themselves three questions prior to booking: can they sit, can they swim and can they sunbathe? The good news is that recovery after sclerotherapy is generally very straightforward.
There are a few minor adjustments you'll need to make in the short term to protect your skin and to maximize your results. Your individual plan will of course be dictated by the veins you're treating and the instructions from your provider.
CAN YOU SIT FOR LONG PERIODS AFTER SCLEROTHERAPY?
Yes, you can sit. Just don't sit for hours without getting up.
If your legs stay still for too long then blood flow will be sluggish. Post treatment, sluggish circulation is a concern in terms of the potential for a blood clot. Movement is what keeps the blood flowing and is good for the healing process.
Walking is encouraged after sclerotherapy (indeed often right after your appointment) you don't need bed rest at all. You just need to keep your legs moving.
Here's what that looks like day to day:
Desk jobs: get up and walk for a few minutes every hour.
Long meetings: flex your ankles and point your toes under the table.
Driving: plan in your short stops on longer trips.
Flights: walk the aisle when you can and let your provider know of any travel plans.
Downtime at home: prop your legs up whilst you're relaxing.
Wear your compression stockings as required following sclerotherapy. They will provide gentle support to the treated veins as you go about your day.
CAN YOU SWIM AFTER SCLEROTHERAPY?
Not immediately. Wait until your injection sites have fully healed. Each injection leaves a tiny opening in the skin. Pools, oceans and lakes can carry bacteria into that opening before it closes. That increases the risk of irritation or infection.
Showers are another matter entirely. A quick shower is generally perfectly acceptable unless your provider tells you otherwise. You can quite happily skip the pool or the sea.
A lot of aftercare plans will tell you to wait about seven days before swimming following spider vein injections. That's not a set in stone rule though. Your own individual healing and your provider's advice will determine when you can get into the pool.
In Miami that could mean skipping the hotel pool, a dip at South Beach or a bit of water aerobics. Reschedule those. A few days of patience will go a long way to protecting your results.
CAN YOU SUNBATHE AFTER SCLEROTHERAPY?
Don't sunbathe or use tanning beds at all during the early recovery phase.
Treated areas will often bruise or appear a little red or discolored for a while (normal). The UV rays can turn those marks into dark spots which can persist for months. That's post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as the doctors would call it.
Sun exposure after spider vein treatment is something you just can't avoid in Miami. You get it on the way to work; you get it having a lunch outdoors and you get it walking the dog. Many of the providers will tell you to shield the treated skin from the sun for approximately two weeks.
Cover your legs with light, breathable clothing when you go out. If you can't avoid the sun then use broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Sunscreen will help; it won't make a tanning session safe though. You need to wait for your provider's approval.
Your legs may be feeling absolutely brilliant long before your skin has actually healed. Protect them anyway.
QUICK TIPS TO SUPPORT YOUR SCLEROTHERAPY RECOVERY TIME
Good sclerotherapy aftercare comes down to a few simple habits:
The well-fitted stockings will support the treated area.
Gentle daily movement will help circulation.
Don't go into hot tubs, saunas or very hot baths until you've been cleared to do so by your provider.
Your provider will assess your healing and determine whether you need any more sessions.
Some of the leg veins you can see are due to problems with the deeper veins. In those circumstances an ultrasound may be used to determine whether you need a different form of treatment prior to sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy isn't the right treatment for every vein.
PLAN YOUR SCLEROTHERAPY AT BEYOND HEALTH MEDSPA, MIAMI
Your recovery should be around your lifestyle rather than the other way around. Beyond Health MedSpa will help you plan your spider vein treatment in Miami around your work, your travel and your time spent outdoors.
If you've got a wedding or a vacation coming up then book early so that your skin has time to heal.
Schedule a consultation with Beyond Health MedSpa. Go through your vein concerns, find out if sclerotherapy is right for you and we'll put together an aftercare plan that fits in with your lifestyle.
