Sclerotherapy
About
Sclerotherapy is a microinjection procedure that requires no pain medication or surgery. Abnormal veins are destroyed by injecting a solution called a sclerosant, which irritates the vein wall. It is not simply injecting the sclerosant, but paying attention to the volume, concentration and “exposure time” that makes the difference between success and failure.
Our Team
What to Expect
The sclerosant we use is an FDA-approved medication, which intentionally causes injury to the inner vein wall. This injury occurs in a controlled manner, depending on the volume and concentration of the medication used in each site. The medication is inactivated quickly by dilutional effect and interaction with structural components of the vein wall, making the effect localized. The initial injury to the vein wall results in a healing process which causes the vein to literally heal shut over time. This results in shrinkage of the vein, and eventually, complete obliteration of the target vein.
FAQ
Does sclerotherapy cause any damage or side effects?
As with all medical procedures, side effects and complications are possible. This is why it is important to seek treatment from an experienced physician. Allergic reactions are extremely rare and are mild when they do occur. They are somewhat more likely to occur when treating larger varicose veins because the medicine is more concentrated and used in greater volumes. You may develop itching dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) and a mild, temporary increase in pigmentation (staining of the skin) if you have any of the following: darker skin, overly sensitive skin, very dense spider veins, or if your skin is already damaged because your veins have deteriorated too much.
Most patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms within 1-2 weeks following the procedure.3