Sclerotherapy effectively treats varicose and spider veins. It’s often considered the treatment of choice for small varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the vein. Read Pritish article to enhance your knowledge about Sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy
The sclerotherapy solution causes the vein to scar, forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins. The collapsed vein is reabsorbed into local tissue and eventually fades.
After sclerotherapy, treated veins tend to fade within a few weeks, although occasionally it may take a month or more to see the full results. In some instances, several sclerotherapy treatments may be needed.
Why it’s done
Sclerotherapy is often done for:
Cosmetic purposes — to improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins
The procedure can also improve related symptoms such as:
- Aching
- Swelling
- Burning
- Night cramps
If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, doctors recommend waiting to have sclerotherapy done.
Who needs to have sclerotherapy treatment?
Sclerotherapy may be appropriate for people with varicose veins or spider veins, but it’s not for everyone.
Before the procedure, you’ll meet with a vascular specialist who’ll decide if you qualify for sclerotherapy.
You’re not eligible for sclerotherapy if you:
- Have an active deep vein thrombosis or superficial vein thrombosis (blood clot).
- Are pregnant. You’ll have to wait at least three months after delivery before you can have sclerotherapy.
- Breastfeeding (chestfeeding).
- Unable to get out of bed.
You can still get sclerotherapy if you take birth control pills.
If you’ve had a blood clot in the past, you may be able to have sclerotherapy, depending on what caused the clot and how serious it was.
In most cases, your provider won’t do sclerotherapy on a vein you might need for future surgical bypass procedures, such as the saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (unless that vein is already unusable).
It’s a good idea to talk with your provider about how successful they think sclerotherapy treatment will be for you. Some people with high expectations are disappointed with their results. Knowing what to expect can help you avoid feeling disappointed. You should also know that results aren’t immediate. You won’t walk out of your provider’s office looking like a leg model.
Risks
Sclerotherapy results in few serious complications.
Temporary side effects
Some side effects that may occur at the site of the injection include:
Sclerotherapy side effects
- Bruising
- Raised red areas
- Small skin sores
- Darkened skin in the form of lines or spots
- Multiple tiny red blood vessels
These side effects usually go away within a few days to several weeks. Some side effects can take months or even years to disappear completely.
Inflammation. This is usually mild but may cause swelling, warmth and discomfort around the injection site. Your doctor may suggest an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin or ibuprofen
Sclerotherapy and blood clot
(Advil, Motrin IB, others) to reduce the inflammation.
Blood clot. A lump of clotted blood may form in a treated vein that may require drainage. Rarely, a blood clot may travel to a deeper vein in your leg (deep vein thrombosis).
Deep vein thrombosis carries a risk of pulmonary embolism (a very rare complication of sclerotherapy), an emergency situation where the clot travels from your leg to your lungs and blocks a vital artery. Seek immediate medical care if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain or dizziness, or you cough up blood.
Air bubbles. Tiny air bubbles may rise in your bloodstream. These don’t always cause symptoms,
Sclerotherapy side effects – air bubble in veins
but if they do, symptoms include visual disturbances, headaches, fainting and nausea. These symptoms generally go away, but call your doctor if you experience problems with limb movement or sensation after the procedure.
Allergic reaction. It’s possible that you may have an allergic reaction to the solution used for treatment, but this is uncommon.
How you prepare
Before the procedure, your doctor performs a physical exam and gathers your medical history.
Physical examination
Your doctor will:
- Evaluate the involved veins
- Check for any underlying blood vessel disease
Medical history
Your doctor will want to know your medical history, including asking about any:
- Recent illnesses or existing medical conditions, such as a heart condition or a past history of blood clots
- Medications or supplements you take, especially aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox Ds), blood thinners, iron supplements or herbal supplements
Allergies
Previous treatment for varicose veins and the results of the treatment
If you take aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or blood thinners, your doctor may instruct you on how to stop taking the medication for a certain amount of time before the procedure, to reduce the chances of bleeding.
Ultrasound
Depending on which veins are involved, your doctor may request ultrasound imaging on the veins in your legs. Ultrasound is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body.
The day before
Before the procedure, avoid shaving or applying any lotion to your legs. (Don’t shave or use lotion after the procedure until the injection site is healed either.) Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment. You might even consider wearing a pair of shorts so that your legs are exposed.
What you can expect
Sclerotherapy is typically done in your doctor’s office and doesn’t require anesthesia. It generally takes less than an hour to complete.
During the procedure
For the procedure, you’ll lie on your back with your legs slightly elevated. After cleansing the area to be treated with alcohol, your doctor will use a fine needle to slowly insert a solution into the appropriate vein.
Sclerotherapy procedure
The solution, usually in liquid form, works by irritating the lining of the vein, causing it to swell shut and block the flow of blood. Some solutions contain a local anesthetic called lidocaine.
Eventually, the vein will become scar tissue and disappear. Sometimes a foam version of the solution may be used, particularly when a larger vein is involved. Foam tends to cover more surface area than liquid.
Some people experience minor stinging or cramps when the needle is inserted into the vein. If you have a lot of pain, tell your doctor. Pain may occur if the solution leaks from the vein into surrounding tissue.
Once the needle is withdrawn, your doctor applies compression and massages the area to keep blood out of the injected vessel and disperse the solution. A compression pad may be taped onto the injection site to keep the area compressed while your doctor moves on to the next vein.
The number of injections depends on the number and size of veins being treated.
After the procedure
You’ll be able to get up and walk around soon after the procedure. Walking and moving your legs is important to prevent the formation of blood clots.
Sclerotherapy – before and after
You’ll be asked to wear compression stockings or bandages — usually for about two weeks — to maintain compression on the treated veins.
Most people return to their normal activities on the same day, but it may be wise to have someone drive you home after the procedure. Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks after the procedure.
You’ll also want to avoid sun exposure to the treated areas during that time. The inflammation caused by the injections combined with sun exposure can lead to dark spots on your skin, especially if you already have a dark skin tone.
Results
If you were treated for small varicose veins or spider veins, you can usually expect to see definitive results in three to six weeks. Larger veins may require three to four months. However, multiple treatments may be needed to achieve the results you want.
Veins that respond to treatment generally don’t come back, but new veins may appear.
Your doctor will likely schedule a follow-up visit about a month after the procedure to determine how well the procedure worked and if you need more sessions. Generally, you need to wait about six weeks before undergoing another sclerotherapy session.
What is the recovery time?
It doesn’t take long to recover from sclerotherapy. After treatment, you can drive home and get back to your normal activities. Walking is good for your recovery, so don’t be surprised if your healthcare provider recommends it.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
You’ll most likely see your healthcare provider for a follow-up visit a month or two after sclerotherapy treatment. You may have a physical exam, blood tests or imaging. If you’re having multiple treatments, you may have your next session two or three months after your first one.
Is laser treatment better than sclerotherapy?
Laser treatment, or endovenous thermal ablation, is another good alternative to ligation and stripping of varicose veins. It’s generally safe but can have some side effects like you do with sclerotherapy. However, it’s difficult to do ablation on a varicose vein that has a lot of twists and turns. Your healthcare provider will need to consider what your veins look like when deciding on the best treatment for you.
Sclerotherapy Effectiveness
Studies have shown that as many as 50%-80% of injected veins may be eliminated with each session of sclerotherapy. 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.
In general, spider veins respond in three to six weeks, and larger veins respond in three to four months. If the veins respond to the treatment, they will not reappear. However, new veins may appear at the same rate as before. If needed, you may return for injections.
Insurance Coverage for Sclerotherapy
Insurance coverage for sclerotherapy varies. If your varicose veins are causing medical problems such as pain or chronic swelling, your insurance may offer reimbursement. If you are pursuing sclerotherapy for cosmetic purposes only, your insurance carrier most likely will not provide coverage. You should discuss your concerns with your doctor. If you have questions, call your insurance company, which may request a letter from your doctor concerning the nature of your treatment and medical necessity.
