Sclerotherapy

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a fast and effective way to treat troublesome varicose veins and spider veins. You’ll see an immediate difference in your problem veins when you have sclerotherapy treatment. It’s a safe, minimally invasive way of getting rid of these veins for good.

There are several types of sclerotherapy. Direct-vision sclerotherapy, also called standard sclerotherapy or microsclerotherapy, is the gold standard of minimally invasive spider vein treatments, while foam sclerotherapy is suitable for larger varicose veins.

Vein Care Medical Center also uses direct-vision sclerotherapy to treat blue superficial veins (reticular veins), and smaller visible varicose veins. Both foam and direct-vision sclerotherapy can be used to treat hand veins.

How does sclerotherapy work?

When you have sclerotherapy, Dr. Landau injects a chemical solution or in some cases a chemical foam into the target vein using a small needle. The solution or foam, known as a sclerosant, causes the veins to collapse from the inside and eventually harden. This forces your body to reroute blood flow through healthier veins.

Successfully treated veins will fade as your body gradually removes them. The hardened vein gets absorbed by your body naturally over the weeks and months after your treatment.

What is foam sclerotherapy?

Foam sclerotherapy is a type of sclerotherapy that uses a foam rather than a liquid sclerosant. Dr. Landau uses Sotradecol® foam or Varithena® (polidocanol injectable foam) to carry out foam sclerotherapy at Vein Care Medical Center.

Both Sotradeco l® and Varithena®  are prescription medicines used to treat varicose veins on the surface and in the saphenous vein systems (great and short) that run along the inside of your leg from the groin to the inner ankle or the back of your calf to the outer ankle. Varithena® improves symptoms related to or caused by varicose veins, as well as the appearance of varicose veins.

Both Sotradecol® and Varithena® microfoam fills and treats the problematic sections of the targeted vein. Dr. Landau uses ultrasound guidance technology to achieve unmatched precision during foam sclerotherapy treatment of the saphenous systems.

Is sclerotherapy painful?

Patients typically find direct-vision sclerotherapy to be painless or to cause only minimal discomfort. You might feel the injections in the same way you would a mosquito bite and you could feel a slight stinging sensation. This shouldn’t last for more than a minute or so.

After your sclerotherapy treatment, you can carry on with your day but avoid strenuous activities for the first week. You will need to wear bandages for the first few days underneath the graduated compression hose for two weeks.

Most patients require a few to several sclerotherapy sessions, depending on the number and size of veins that need treating.  Dr. Landau will advise you of what number of treatments you will need at the time of your thorough venous history and physical exam prior to treatment commencement. 

Call or send an email to Vein Care Medical Center today to find out more about sclerotherapy and schedule a consultation.