SCLEROTHERAPY
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“All We Do Is Veins, All Day Every Day.”
SCLEROTHERAPY
- Useful in many situations.
- Injected solution can be liquid or foam.
- Most often used for spider veins.
- Can be used on larger bulging varicose veins.
- Can be used in the major veins of the superficial system (saphenous veins).
How It’s Done
Sclerotherapy is simply injecting a drug into a vein to damage it and make it disappear. For spider veins liquid is the most preferred option. A very tiny needle is inserted into the vein and the drug simply pushed through the syringe in tiny amounts. The drug has damaging effects on the vein lining. The vein then clots and the damaged tissue and microclot dissolve over several weeks. Foam is made by mixing the liquid with air or CO2 and often used on larger veins. Both liquid and foam can be obtained in an FDA approved form today.
SCLEROTHERAPY Advantages
- One injection site may allow a whole network of veins to get filled and treated.
- Patients are able to resume normal activities immediately after treatment.
- Typically a minimally painful and easy procedure that has excellent results.
- Less painful than Lasers- Surface lasers have to fire at every millimeter of the visible veins. Every firing of the laser feels like a rubber band snapping on the skin. Lasers can only be used on the smallest of veins.
Before and After Sclerotherapy Treatment
*Several sessions are typically required to get optimal results*
*Several sessions are typically required to get optimal results*
Risks Associated With SCLEROTHERAPY
- Trapped blood – occurs when a segment of vein remains open between sealed segments, “trapping” blood in the vein. The patient may feel a tender lump in this area. Trapped blood usually can be removed by a small puncture and is easily treated on a follow-up visit. Unreleased trapped blood can cause staining.
- Staining – A light brown discoloration of skin overlying a treated vein. May take several weeks to months to resolve and can be permanent in some patients. Darker pigmented skins stain more than lighter skins.
- Skin ulceration is extremely rare.
- Our preferred solutions are Glycerin, Sotradecol (STS) liquid and foam, and Polidocanol foam.
Sclerotherapy Aftercare
Patients can improve results by avoiding strenuous physical activity, hot baths and exposure to the sun after treatment. We require patients to wear medical grade compression hose for 2 weeks after treatment to achieve optimal results and reduce complications.
Sclerotherapy Limitations
- Since only about 80% of veins that get injected will be damaged enough to permanently disappear, some veins will have to be injected more than once.
- There is a daily limit to the amount of sclerosant. Multiple sessions may be required to get all veins treated.
Before and After Sclerotherapy Treatment
At Vein Specialists of the Carolinas we use a vein light to help identify the best area to inject large clusters of spider veins.
From The Blog
What to Expect From Sclerotherapy
More than 50 percent of Americans suffer with these unsightly spider and varicose veins, and wish to get rid of the discomfort they cause as well as improve their appearance. It can be difficult to enjoy the warm months of summer when you’re too embarrassed to wear a...
Happy Birthday to our 5 star Review Queen, Chris!
Chris is our Sclerotherapy Nurse in the Charlotte office. Chris is fabulous at what she does, we are so thankful she is a part of our VSC team! Chris, we hope you had an amazing birthday! Thank you for all that you do. We appreciate you!
Causes of Spider Veins
Spider veins or telangiectasia are those visible networks of red and blue lines that often appear on the legs. While they are often a simple cosmetic concern, some individuals may experience uncomfortable symptoms with their spider veins as well. Because there are a...
CHARLOTTE, NC
Phone
Hours
Mon.-Thurs.: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Friday: 7:30am-12:30pm
Address
15825 Ballantyne Medical Place,
Ste. 240
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
GASTONIA, NC
Phone
Hours
Mon.-Thurs.: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Friday: 7:30am-12:30pm
Address
860 Summit Crossing Place,
Ste. 120
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054