Sclerotherapy

In the majority of cases, a procedure called sclerotherapy is used to treat these blood vessels, in which a solution called a sclerosant is injected, using a very fine needle, directly into the blood vessel. This procedure has been used in various forms for veins since the 1920s but has only been associated with an acceptably low side effect rate in the more recent past.

How does it work?

The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together. Some vessels will fade from view, eventually becoming barely or not at all visible.

How many treatments are require?

A few vessels will need a second treatment, and a few will not be accessible for injection at any given treatment session because they will have been covered by the tape used to pressurise other veins treated during that session. Depending on its size, a single blood vessel may have to be injected more than once, but in any one treatment session a number of vessels may be injected. The solutions used vary somewhat with the size of the vessel to be injected, and your doctor will be able to decide which veins are best treated with which solutions. Larger varicose veins often underlie spider veins. In such cases it is thought that it is best to treat these vessels first.

If the varicose and reticular veins are treated first, often the spider veins that were connected to these will disappear over the following weeks without themselves being injected. Because of this it may be advisable to space out the visits to allow maximal resolution of veins following each treatment, thereby minimising the number of treatments required.

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS TO SCLEROTHERAPY?

Even when a highly experienced doctor is performing the treatment, there are a number of possible side effects. These include various skin markings or injury, localised swellings and bruising or tenderness or itch. Occasionally a darkening of the skin occurs which may take up to 12 months to resolve.

Most of the side effects are minor, and confined to the area which has been treated. Your doctor will give you a more detailed explanation of all possible side effects before the commencement of your treatment.

WILL TREATED VEINS RECUR?

The veins treated adequately by sclerotherapy will not recur, unless they are extremely large before treatment. However, the underlying weakness in the vein walls is not corrected, and therefore new vessels will possibly continue to appear at the same rate as before treatment.

These of course can be treated as they occur. The problem of venous disease is generally a progressive one, and unfortunately most of the causative factors are either not known, or not treatable.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

Generally you will be required to wear some form of support or pressure garment for a period of time, usually a week. Failure to do this may compromise the effectiveness of the treatment, so the inconvenience of a leg bandage for a week should be factored in to the timing of your appointment. You should also be able to do regular walking after your treatment, as this promotes the emptying of the leg veins, including the ones treated.