What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is the common cosmetic answer to the problem of unwanted types of veins, such as varicose veins and spider veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the affected vein. The solution is called a sclerosant and often contains a salt or detergent. The sclerosant causes the blood vessels in the vein to swell and the vein to collapse. After several treatments, given weeks apart, the vein turns into scar tissue and heals. Multiple veins can be treated during the same treatment session.
Is Sclerotherapy Right For You?
You should check with your doctor or vascular medicine specialist if sclerotherapy is the right varicose vein treatment for you. Individuals with a history of blood clots may not find this treatment suitable for their unwanted veins. Similarly, doctors advise pregnant women to wait at least three months after delivery to undergo sclerotherapy.
If you find that you will be eligible for sclerotherapy, ask your doctor how to prepare for this treatment since certain medications and things should be avoided on the day of or days before the treatment. For instance, some doctors will recommend their patients to avoid inflammatory medications such as Advil and Aspirin for 48-72 hours before sclerotherapy to reduce the amount of bruising. Discuss with your doctor for details of how you should prepare for your sclerotherapy treatment.
How is Sclerotherapy Performed?
In a typical outpatient sclerotherapy treatment, no anesthetic is needed. Your doctor will cleanse your skin with an antiseptic before using a fine needle to inject sclerosing solution into your affected vein. Your doctor will first inject the larger vein before treating the smaller ones. You may feel a mild stinging when he does this.
In most cases, when treating spider veins you could receive about five to 40 separate injections per a treatment since one injection of sclerosing agent is usually needed to treat one inch of the varicose vein.
When the session is completed, your doctor will cover the injection sites with a cotton ball or compression tape. Most treatment sessions last 15 to 45 minutes, and you may need more than one session to fully eliminate your varicose veins.
What Are the Side Effects of Sclerotherapy?
After sclerotherapy you may experience common side effects such as itching, bruising, and reddening of skin around the site of injection. These side effects should clear up in several days or weeks.
Other side effects that may develop include:
- A large vein turns lumpy and hard, which may take several months to collapse and disappear.
- Brown lines or spots appear at the site of treatment. This can take up to three to 12 months to clear up.
- New tiny blood vessels emerge after the procedure, which can last three to 12 months before fading.
If you experience any of the following side effects after sclerotherapy you should contact your doctor immediately. These side effects include:
- Inflammation near the groin area
- Swelling of the leg
- Formation of ulcers at the injection site
