Address Varicose Veins with Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy does not require anesthesia and usually takes 15–30 minutes to complete, depending on the extent of the veins.

A chemical solution is injected through a very fine needle directly into the vein. At this point, you may experience mild discomfort and cramping for one to two minutes, especially when larger veins are injected.

The number of veins injected in one session depends on the size and location of the veins, as well as the general medical condition of the patient.

After sclerotherapy you will be able to drive yourself home and resume your regular daily activities.

Following the injections, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 48 HRS.

Avoid the following for 48 HRS after treatment:

• Hot baths

• Hot compresses

• Whirlpools or saunas

• Direct exposure to sunlight

Showers are permitted, but the water should be cooler than usual. The injection sites may be washed with a mild soap and tepid water.

Within the first week, you may be instructed to wear support stockings for three to six weeks, and the treated sites will appear bruised.

You will also be encouraged to walk around, and resume daily activities, besides any strenuous exercise.

After two months, your vein treatment should have completed its healing.

Studies have shown that as many as 50%-80% of injected veins may be eliminated with each session of sclerotherapy.

The vein fades within 4-6 weeks after the procedure, but it can take several months for the full effects depending on the extent of the condition

Depending on its size, a single vein may have to be injected more than once.

Less than 10% of the people who have sclerotherapy do not respond to the injections at all. In these instances, different solutions can be tried.

Although this procedure works for most patients, there are no guarantees for success.

After each spider vein treatment, you will notice improvement of your skin’s appearance; however, it is important to realize that new spider veins may surface in the future.

The number of sessions required will depend on the severity of your condition and the size of the affected veins.

Generally, For spider veins, 1-3 sessions may be sufficient, while varicose veins may require 3-6 sessions or more.

Sessions are usually spaced several weeks apart to allow time for the veins to heal and the effects of the previous treatment to become apparent.