What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a popular non-invasive treatment for varicose veins and spider veins. Varicose veins are veins, usually in the legs, that are twisted and enlarged. Spider veins are a mild form of varicose veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the affected veins, which causes them to collapse and fade from view.
Why would I need sclerotherapy?
Varicose veins and spider veins can occur due to a variety of factors, including:
- Genetics
- Age
- Lifestyle choices
- Standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time
- Pregnancy and obesity can increase the risk of developing varicose veins
- Women are more likely to develop varicose and spider veins than men
The symptoms of varicose veins and spider veins include:
- The appearance of twisted, bulging, or discolored veins just below the surface of the skin
- May be painful, itchy or uncomfortable
- Can worsen over time if left untreated.
Sclerotherapy can effectively treat these symptoms by collapsing the affected veins and reducing their visibility.
What to expect with sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment that involves injecting a solution directly into the affected veins. The solution causes the veins to collapse and be reabsorbed into the body, which can improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins. There are two types of sclerotherapy depending upon the size and location of the vein.
Foam Sclerotherapy
Or injection therapy — is the most commonly used treatment for small diameter (<5mm) veins, such as spider veins. In Sclerotherapy, a liquid is injected with a tiny needle into the vein that causes inflammation of the vein walls and causes the vein walls to stick to one another, collapsing the walls together. This solution and the use of a compression stocking, effectively prevents the vein from working and it stops carrying blood. The vein therefore disappears with time.
Small veins are effectively removed by Sclerotherapy but veins will often reappear if the underlying causes, incompetent blood vessels, are not treated. Sclerotherapy is associated with brown discoloration of the vein that may take up to one year to disappear and usually requires repeated treatments. It rarely can cause skin ulcers and as with all medications, some patients may have an allergy to the solution.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy is used for the treatment of deeper veins that cannot be seen or felt and for larger superficial veins.
Using ultrasound, a solution is injected into the veins causing the vein walls to collapse. Compression stockings are then used to make sure that the vein walls stay collapsed. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy requires expert knowledge that conventional sclerotherapy does not. Once again, as the larger veins are treated, smaller spider and reticular veins will often disappear.
The advantages are no scarring and smaller veins disappear, while the downside is brownish discolorations, allergic reactions and the rare development of skin ulcers.
Treated veins tend to fade within a few weeks after treatment and may not disappear completely. Most patients require multiple treatments to achieve optimal results, with treatments spaced several weeks apart. Sclerotherapy is generally well-tolerated and does not require any downtime.
What are the risks of sclerotherapy?
While sclerotherapy is generally safe and effective, there are some risks associated with the treatment. These risks include allergic reactions to the injection, temporary swelling or discoloration at the injection site, and the formation of blood clots. Rarely, sclerotherapy can also cause skin ulcers or nerve damage. Patients should discuss the risks and benefits of sclerotherapy with their dermatologist before undergoing treatment.
If you are experiencing symptoms of varicose or spider veins, it is important to consult with a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. While sclerotherapy is generally well-tolerated, patients should discuss the risks and benefits of the treatment with their dermatologist before undergoing treatment.