Sclerotherapy Procedure

Do you suffer from inflammation and leg pain? Are you tired of the appearance that varicose veins and vascular veins give to your legs? With the sclerotherapy treatment for varicose veins you will be able to eliminate them forever, your health will improve and you will achieve the desired appearance

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical outpatient procedure designed to reduce the appearance of small, superficial spider veins and varicose veins. It is minimally invasive: it only involves the use of a micro-needle to inject a solution that makes the unwanted veins fade or disappear.

Why is sclerotherapy so effective?

One of the most remarkable things about your circulatory system is that it is built in such a way as to ensure that your blood always follows the right path to its destination. During the treatment process, your vein specialist permanently closes off the diseased vein and the blood is automatically diverted to other, healthier vessels. The tissue from the closed vein is eventually reabsorbed by your body.

Sclerotherapy is one of the most popular treatments for vein disease because it is fast, effective, and safe. During the procedure, your specialist numbs the vein being treated and then uses a medical injection to seal off the diseased vein. Patients sometimes feel a few seconds of burning or cramping in the treated area, but there is no lasting pain.

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Who is a candidate for sclerotherapy?

Patients who present symptoms and wish to improve the appearance of their legs, after being properly assessed by their specialist doctor.

The path to removing spider or varicose veins begins with a consultation with a doctor who specializes in vascular problems. After taking a medical history and performing a physical exam, the doctor will determine if a patient is a likely candidate for the procedure.

Acceptable candidates typically have these attributes:

They have realistic expectations of treatment and results.

  • They are not pregnant or nursing and have not been pregnant for a minimum of three months.
  • They are between 30 and 60 years old.
  • They can follow the detailed instructions issued before and after sclerotherapy.

They recognize that the treatment will not stop the formation of future veins

These criteria prevent becoming a candidate

  • Desired vessels could be used for future bypass
  • The individual has a history of blood clots or has coagulation problems that require individual testing
  • The patient is bedridden.

Why is it done?

People with varicose vein problems may choose, in consultation with their doctor, to undergo sclerotherapy because they find them unattractive or because the diseased veins are causing unpleasant and/or dangerous symptoms.

Some of the reasons a patient may want, or a doctor may recommend, sclerotherapy may include one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Painful, aching, or burning sensations in the legs or feet
  • Swelling or redness at the site
  • Leg cramps, especially at night.
  • Scaly, dry, or discolored skin at the site
  • Discomfort after sitting or standing for long periods

What happens if I don’t take care of the problem?

When varicose veins are left untreated, pressure builds up in the veins. Over time, this pressure can cause the capillaries to burst.

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels that are closest to the surface of the skin. When they burst, the skin over them can become discolored. This seemingly minor internal bleeding can also cause swelling and damage to nearby tissue.

More importantly, the skin surface that covers burst capillaries can be very fragile. Even a light bump or scratch can break it.

Patients may therefore find that they bruise and bleed more easily.

When the discolored spots that indicate broken capillaries break, they sometimes don’t heal. Persistent open sores, or ulcers, that develop can be extremely painful.

As spider veins and the venous insufficiency that causes them worsen, the legs can swell. This swelling, in turn, makes ulcers more likely and more difficult to heal.

Over time, these sores can also become infected. If these infections are not treated, it can result in a dangerous and potentially fatal condition called cellulitis.

Untreated varicose veins, and the resulting complications, can be painful. They can also create a feeling of heaviness or tiredness in the legs. Also, they can cause swelling.

All of these factors can reduce mobility. Unfortunately for many patients with untreated spider veins, this reduced mobility contributes to a vicious cycle.

How many sessions are needed?

It depends on the problem to be treated, consult your doctor.

Most people only need one or two sclerotherapy sessions to achieve their desired results. However, the severity of your concerns, the location of the disordered veins, and the size and number of the disordered veins will affect the number of sessions you will need.

What do they inject for sclerotherapy?

Aethoxylerol in different percentages: 5% 1% 3%.

Aethoxysklerol® is suitable for all types of varicose veins and can therefore be adapted to the individual patient situation

The sclerosant Aethoxysklerol® is available in different concentrations ranging from 0.25% to 3% and can be administered both in liquid form and in sclerosing microfoam, depending on the size of the varicose veins or hemorrhoids to be treated.

How long does it take to see the results?

It may take 4-6 weeks to see results after sclerotherapy. Bruises can last up to 2 weeks. Veins tend to look worse before they look better.

Is anesthesia required?

Nope

Risks

After the procedure, patients may experience various symptoms, including swelling, pain, and burning around the injected area. Some people have also reported experiencing night cramps in the injected area. Some other people have also experienced itching and bruising around the area. Other side effects after the procedure include skin discoloration, discomfort, and raised red areas that appear around the injection sites.

These minor side effects are expected to go away after a few months without taking any medication prescribed by your doctor. Some side effects usually go away within three to six months. However, there are cases where the side effects last even longer or can even become permanent, but these are sporadic cases.

However, in some cases serious side effects also occur. Those serious side effects include ulceration of the skin around the injected area, allergic reaction to the sclerotherapy solution, mild swelling and discomfort around the injected area, and formation of blood clots in the treated veins.

Other lesser known side effects of sclerotherapy for patients include hyperpigmentation, capillary dilation or telangiectatic matting, localized urticaria, tape compression folliculitis, tape compression blister, vasovagal reflex, skin death or also known as skin necrosis, growth of localized hair or hirsutism, thrombophlebitis, arterial injection, deep vein thrombosis, nerve damage, pulmonary embolism and migraine attacks and others

What to expect after treatment?

One of the benefits of sclerotherapy is that there is no downtime. You will be able to go home the same day and resume many of your usual activities, with a few exceptions. As with other varicose vein treatments, you’ll need to avoid strenuous activities like heavy lifting for a week or two to avoid putting excessive pressure on the veins while they heal and adjust.

However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid all physical activity. In fact, patients undergoing sclerotherapy are encouraged to walk and remain moderately active to promote circulation and healing in the area. Most patients benefit from at least 30 minutes of walking each day, which can be broken up into shorter periods of time.

After your surgery, a compression bandage will be placed over your incisions. The bandage must remain for the first 24 hours. After that, you will wear compression stockings or stockings during your recovery. These socks or stockings support your veins to help “speed up” the healing process. They also help reduce swelling or bruising in the area. You can also decrease swelling by keeping your legs elevated as much as possible, even while working or sleeping.

Less often, you may experience some itching in the area as it heals. All of these side effects (itching, bruising, and swelling) will go away within a week or two after your treatment. If you notice any clots or pain at the injection sites, please call the office immediately so we can provide you with appropriate care.

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Care after sclerotherapy

Here are some guidelines on how to get the most out of your sclerotherapy aftercare process:
Immediately after treatment, walk for 20 minutes on a flat surface.
On day two, walk for 2 minutes 3-4 times a day.

After treatment, keep bandages and/or compression stockings on for 48 hours at a time and bag your legs to shower. After those first two days, wear the compression stockings while awake for the next 3 weeks.

After the first week, you can exercise every day, but keep bandages or socks dry.
Strenuous physical and sports activities should be avoided for the first 2-3 days.
Waxing or shaving your legs is not allowed for two weeks.
Continue to wear compression stockings if your daily routine involves continuous standing, walking, or lifting.

These are some recommended habits to avoid the reappearance of varicose veins.

Recover the health and beauty of your legs with a safe and pain-free treatment