Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy refers to the use of fine needles to inject medical materials directly into the veins. Commonly used to treat varicose and spider veins, sclerotherapy is offered to patients who have tried compression stockings and leg elevation without any success.

With sclerotherapy, a solution is injected into the veins. This solution irritates the veins, causing it to swell and the blood to clot. The veins will then turn into scar tissue that will fade from view. The surrounding tissue will be wrapped in compression bandages for several days, causing the vein walls to stick together. Patients who undergo sclerotherapy, are advised to maintain walking regimes that force the blood to flow into other veins, preventing the development of blood clots. This treatment has been used since the 1920s and has proven to be successful in the reduction of varicose and spider veins.

Sclerotherapy is often used for cosmetic purposes – to improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins – but can also improve related symptoms, such as:

  • Aching
  • Swelling
  • Burning
  • Night cramps

Sclerotherapy is a moderately safe procedure with very few complications. It does, however, have temporary side effects that go away after a few days to several weeks. These temporary side effects include:

  • Bruising
  • Raised red areas
  • Small skin sores
  • Darkened skin in the form of lines or spots
  • Multiple tiny red blood vessels

Other side effects are rare but may require treatment. These include:

  • Inflammation. This is usually mild but may cause swelling, warmth and discomfort around the injection site.
  • Blood clot. A lump of clotted blood may form in a treated vein that may require drainage.
  • Deep vein thrombosis carries a risk of pulmonary embolism, 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. Symptoms are temporary and may include visual disturbances, headache, fainting and nausea.
  • Allergic reaction. It's possible that you may have an allergic reaction to the solution used for treatment, but this is uncommon.

Services we offer