Sclerotherapy is a safe treatment used to improve the appearance of varicose veins. It was developed in the 1950s and has been used reliably to help people feel better about the appearance of their legs.
If you’re considering undergoing sclerotherapy, here’s what you can expect from the procedure:
Prior to treatment
You will need to meet with a doctor before they do your treatment for a full medical consultation. The doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, take your blood pressure and weight, and ask about any medication you’re taking. The consultation might involve an ultrasound, as the doctor may want to see if there are any external factors contributing to your varicose veins, such as if the valves in the saphenous veins are broken.
After examining the area, the doctor will tell you about the best way to move forward with sclerotherapy. Before undergoing the procedure, you may need radiofrequency ablation or to cease taking medications that may affect bruising or bleeding.
During the treatment
Sclerotherapy takes about an hour. First, the large vein area to be treated is wiped down with alcohol. Then, a sclerosant solution is put into the vein and the solution is slowly injected. The doctor might knead the skin to help the process.
The vein will immediately disappear, then become more prominent, and then it will finally fade away. Veins might require more than one injection, and most will disappear within a few weeks.
After the treatment
After treatment, a small band-aid will cover the injection site and the area will be wrapped with a bandage. A compression stocking will be needed for the first two to three weeks. You can walk out of the door after your treatment and continue normal daily activities.
Once the treatment has been completed, you should notice the benefits, including less visible veins and normalized blood flow to the area.
If you are interested in finding out more about a sclerotherapy procedure or want to talk to an expert about how it can help you, get in touch with us at Pacific Vein Care today.