Sclerotherapy for Varicose Vein Relief

Sclerotherapy for Varicose Vein Relief

While there are several different treatment options for spider veins, sclerotherapy has stood the test of time and remains a front-runner as a favorite of Vein Specialists and satisfied patients.

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is the use of an injected solution which goes directly into the vein causing it to collapse and scar. This forces the blood to reroute through healthy still viable veins. The collapsed vein is then able to be reabsorbed into the tissue and the visual mark eventually fades.

Why choose sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is minimally invasive. The procedure improves not only the look of your legs but also related symptoms such as swelling, aching, burning and leg cramps. Treated veins will fade within a few weeks, although in some patients it may take up to two months to see the full results. For more severe cases, several sclerotherapy treatments may be warranted. Your doctor will let you know prior to any treatment being administered.

Things to be aware of when opting for Sclerotherapy

This is an outpatient procedure which is generally performed in your doctor’s office. No anaesthesia is required and usually takes from 15 minutes to an hour to complete depending on the extent of the damaged veins.

During the procedure, patients lie on their back, legs slightly elevated. Pretreatment the area is swabbed with alcohol. To begin the doctor uses a fine needle and begins slowly to inject a safe chemical solution or foam into the vein. Some patients may experience a minor stinging sensation or slight cramps at the point of insertion. The injection irritates the vein lining, causing it to swell shut and block the flow of blood.

Once the needle is removed, the doctor will then apply compression bandages and massage the area to keep blood out of the injected vessel and disperse the solution. For larger veins, a compression pad may be taped onto the site to keep the area compressed while your doctor moves on to the next vein. The size and area will affect the number of injections needed in a treatment.

Insurance coverage

Depending on the patient Sclerotherapy may or may not be covered by insurance. Please check with your carrier before scheduling the procedure.

Downtime

There is virtually no downtime with Sclerotherapy. You can stand and walk immediately, it is even recommended. Compression stockings should be worn for one to three weeks and though you should avoid sun exposure during that time, you may return otherwise to normal activities.

Want to learn more?

Give West Florida Vein Center a call today at (727) 712-3233 or visit www.westfloridaveincenter.com to start your screening.