Sclerotherapy

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure commonly used to treat varicose or spider veins. Sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive treatment that does not require hospitalization or general anesthesia.

Our board-certified vascular surgeons at Western Vascular Institute are dedicated to providing sclerotherapy. They will take the time to answer any questions you may have about varicose or spider veins and help discover the best treatment plan for you and your lifestyle. For more information, call our vein and vascular clinic in Florence, Mesa, and Payson, AZ, at (480) 668-5000 and schedule an appointment today!

What is Sclerotherapy Used For?

Sclerotherapy can be used to treat both smaller spider veins and larger varicose veins.

You may be a candidate for sclerotherapy if:

• You’re self-conscious about the appearance of your varicose or spider veins
• Your veins are causing discomfort
• You’re in pain or experiencing cramping in your legs

How is Sclerotherapy Performed?

Sclerotherapy is a proven procedure that has been in use since the 1930s. It can be performed by a number of specialists, most often a board-certified dermatologist or cardiovascular surgeon. It is a very common procedure that usually takes less than an hour.

Sclerotherapy is performed by:

• First, a Western Vascular vascular surgeon will clean the area of your skin
• Next, an injection of a solution (usually a salt solution) is given directly into the vein and a Western Vascular vascular surgeon will massage the area  to help distribute the solution
• The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel and then, the vessel collapses and sticks together
• Without the flow of blood, your body’s tissues will start to absorb the vein
• Your problematic vessel turns into scar tissue and your body reroutes the vein’s blood flow to healthy veins instead
• There is no more blood flow to the troublesome veins
• Your vein fades completely over the next few weeks or months

What Should I Know Before Sclerotherapy?

Your specialist will evaluate you to determine what treatment option is right for you. There are different types of injections used in sclerotherapy depending on your needs.

Before the treatment, be sure to talk to a Western Vascular vascular surgeon about your medications. You may need to stop taking anti-inflammatories or avoid alcohol and nicotine.

Wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid lotion on the area prior to sclerotherapy.

Throughout the procedure, you will be as comfortable as possible. If you feel uneasy about any part of the procedure, talk to a Western vascular surgeon about options to relieve your anxiety.

Most find the injections relatively painless, though you might experience a small amount of burning, tingling, or discomfort. The injections often contain a small amount of numbing agent to minimize any pain related to the procedure.

If a vein is difficult to see from the surface of the skin, your vein surgeon can also use ultrasound guidance to visualize the vein and treat it with sclerotherapy.

After Sclerotherapy

Most patients are able to return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure is complete.

After sclerotherapy, you will be able to drive yourself home and resume your regular daily activities. Walking is also encouraged to help avoid blood clots.

Other recommendations after sclerotherapy include:

• Avoiding hot baths or saunas
• Showers are allowed, but water should be cooler than usual
• Avoiding direct exposure to sunlight
• Wearing support garments to compress the treated vessels for about two weeks
• Avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 48 hours
• Washing injection site with a mild soap

What to Expect Moving Forward

Sclerotherapy works for many patients, most seeing spider veins respond in three to six weeks.

Some larger veins may take longer, like three to four months. If the veins respond to the treatment, they will not reappear.

Less than 10 percent of people do not respond to the injections at all. If this is the case for you, another solution can be tried after discussing your situation with a Western Vascular vascular surgeon.

Usually, 50 to 80 percent of the injected veins are eliminated with each session of sclerotherapy. It may take more than one session. If needed, you may return for injections, especially if new veins continue to appear.

Types of Sclerotherapy

Liquid Sclerotherapy Injections

• Use a liquid solution to penetrate the veins
• Liquid injections mix with your blood to trigger the formation of scar tissue

Foam Sclerotherapy Injections

• The foam solution is similar to the liquid alternatives, but it contains air or another chemical to give the solution a voluminous texture
• Foam injections remain separate from your blood
• Foam displaces your blood so that it can’t flow through your veins
• Contains less sclerosing agent (the chemical that causes the death of the vein)
• A good option for patients who want to eradicate their veins with minimal chemicals
• Foam solution usually covers a larger surface area, it usually works better for large or long veins

Both options of sclerotherapy are proven effective. Talk to a Western Vascular vascular surgeon about which is right for you.