Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy has been used to treat varicose veins for over 150 years, and it is still the most popular method to remove medium sized veins, such as larger spider veins and smaller varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is a simple injection that requires no pain medication or surgery. The smallest facial threads and spider veins cannot be treated with Sclerotherapy because the veins need to be large enough to receive the sclerosing agent by injection. When injected into a large spider vein, the Sclerotherapy solution causes a scar to form inside the vessel, which forces the vein to close off and for the blood to be redirected to healthier veins. In a few weeks your varicose or spider veins should simply shrink and fade away. Sclerotherapy has even been noted to help relieve some of the physical symptoms associated with severe spider veins such as burning, aching, cramping, and swelling. While the principles of Sclerotherapy varicose vein treatments have remained the same over the last century, the procedure itself has made many advancements in the past decade. Micro-Sclerotherapy, Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, and Foam Sclerotherapy have all added it its effectiveness as a varicose vein and spider vein treatment.

Micro-Sclerotherapy-This method uses an improved Sclerotherapy solution along with better injection techniques to more effectively remove spider veins. Micro-sclerotherapy uses an extremely small, thin needle and is administered with the help of a large magnifying light. Patients should expect to receive one injection for every inch of vein, and anywhere from 5 to 40 injections per Micro-Sclerotherapy session. The procedure is virtually painless. At most, you might feel a small needle prick and a burning sensation, but the needle is so thin and the sclerosing solution is so mild that pain is usually extremely mild. Micro-Sclerotherapy is a good option for leg veins that are too small for Endovenous Laser Treatments.

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy—This varicose vein treatment utilizes ultrasound technology to aid in delivering and monitoring the Sclerotherapy injection. By using ultrasound, your vein technician or physician can monitor veins that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy can find hidden veins and make deeper veins easier to visualize, decreasing the need for vein surgery. Ultrasound machines increase the accuracy and precision of Sclerotherapy varicose vein removal. Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy makes treating large varicose veins or large networks of spider veins safer and more reliable.

Foam Sclerotherapy—Generally, Sclerotherapy typically involves a liquid Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate solution, but recent breakthroughs have introduced a thicker, “foamed” sclerosant drug. Foam Sclerotherapy mixes the liquid Sclerotherapy agent with carbon dioxide, which suspends the medication in micro-bubbles before the injection. The foaming process increases the surface area and effectiveness of the sclerosing agent. Foam Sclerotherapy works so well because it doesn’t mix with the blood in the vessel. Blood can dilute a regular Sclerotherapy solution and reduce its effectiveness.

Sclerotherapy costs are comparable to those of Laser Vein Removal, so making your vein removal decision is based more on where you want the veins removed and what type of veins you want removed. The different Sclerotherapy treatments can even be combined; Micro-Sclerotherapy performed using foam under ultrasound guidance can provide complete elimination of large varicose veins, including the greater and smaller saphenous veins.