What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is used to treat both spider veins and certain types of varicose veins. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a special medication into the diseased vein which causes it to close off. Here at our center, we use an FDA-approved drug called Sotradecol (sodium tetradecyl sulfate). Sotradecol is not painful like saline injections, which are used by many other clinics. Back To Top Will it hurt? Most patients describe minimal itching and burning for 5-15 minutes following sclerotherapy, but you will leave the office free of discomfort. You will feel the prick of the needle being inserted into the skin. However, we use the tiniest needles possible to reduce the discomfort felt by our patients. If you are very concerned about pain, please talk to Dr. Walrath. They will be more than willing to discuss some possible solutions. Back To Top Is this treatment permanent? Most people who have spider veins also have diseased veins which “feed” the spider veins. Here at our center, we m
Sclerotherapy is a microinjection of either a saline or detergent solution into the vein causing it to close and eventually disappear. We use several detergent agents that are non-painful, safe and very effective. Treatment is done in sessions and during each session several areas are treated at once. The total number of session needed depends on the extent of the spider clusters. You return to normal activities after each session with only light compression to be worn for three days. Side effects are minimal and results can be fantastic, however spider veins can eventually return after treatment and may need additional treatment over the years.
Sclerotherapy is relatively inexpensive, leaves no scars, and can be performed on an outpatient basis. A specially developed chemical solution is injected with a very small needle into the spider or varicose vein. The solution washes over the tiny cells, which line the inner wall of the blood vessel. The solution dries out the cells, causing them to shrink and leaving them unable to carry blood. Eventually, the blood vessels disappear by a natural cleaning of the body. The work of carrying the blood is shifted to other healthy blood vessels nearby, consequently improving circulation. Sclerotherapy requires multiple sessions with the sclerotherapist. One to three injections are usually required to effectively treat any vein, multiple veins may be treated in one session. The same area should not be injected for four to six weeks to allow for complete healing, although other areas may undergo treatment during this time. When spider veins are interconnected, injection into one site may fad
Treatments involve one or more injections during one or more sessions, depending on the type, number and severity of the veins being treated. By the end of the treatment program, the veins are no longer visible on the skin surface. Sclerotherapy usually also relieves symptoms associated with enlarged veins and prevents further complications from occurring.
