The Ultimate Guide To Sclerotherapy Treatment | USA Vein Clinics

1. The Complete Guide To Sclerotherapy Treatment

2. Common symptoms of vein disease include: • Leg pain that improves when you walk or raise your legs • Itchy, dry skin • Numbness or tingling sensation • Swelling in the legs and ankles • Tired, aching legs • Burning in the calf or thigh • Difficulty standing for long periods • Non-healing wounds on your legs

3. If these issues sound like ones you’d prefer to avoid, we certainly understand the sentiment. You may also wonder who is most at risk for developing vein disease. For most individuals, there are multiple contributing factors involved. Lifestyle and genetic factors play a part. Unfortunately, even if you follow a healthy lifestyle, you may not be able to avoid vein disease. Risk factors for vein disease include: Genetics: If you have close relatives with varicose veins and other vein symptoms, you are at increased risk. Your risk further increases if you have multiple close relatives with poor vein health.

4. Being obese or overweight: Carrying around extra pounds can strain your veins and sometimes cause irreversible damage. To improve your vein health, losing excess weight is a top priority. Focus on maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) through eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Inactivity: While physical movement promotes good blood circulation, sitting on your couch watching TV doesn’t. Fortunately, nearly all forms of physical exercise are beneficial when it comes to managing your vein health. Many people find that going for daily walks is an easy, enjoyable, and inexpensive way to get moving. Age: As you get older, you are more likely to develop varicose veins. Although anyone can develop vein problems at any age, your risk increases beyond age 50.

5. Sex: Women are more likely to experience varicose veins. This may be related to pregnancy. Pregnancy: When you are pregnant, your blood volume increases and places additional strain on your veins. An influx of pregnancy hormones may also influence the development of varicose veins. Other underlying health conditions: Unfortunately, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health issues can put you at greater risk for venous insufficiency. These conditions can also cause your symptoms to worsen over time.

6. Prolonged periods of standing or sitting: If you spend your days standing in one place or sitting still, your vein health may be compromised. To avoid developing future issues, take frequent breaks throughout the day to walk around and stretch. You can also do exercises in place –– such as ankle rolls and calf raises –– to get your blood flowing. Propping up your feet at the end of the day can help relieve painful symptoms. If you are at risk for vein disease, we want to assure you that there’s help available. We offer a range of potential treatments for varicose and spider veins. We also treat more serious venous conditions like blood clots and venous ulcers.

7. We offer the following vein treatments: • Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) • ClariVein • Varithena Foam • Sclerotherapy Ourvein specialists will work with you every step of the way to develop an individualized plan of care. Some patients may require multiple sessions or more than one type of treatment. If Sclerotherapy is recommended for you, here’s everything you need to know.

8. What Is Sclerotherapy? Sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive, office-based technique that treats spider veins and small varicose veins. It has been around for over a century, and can be used for cosmetic reasons or for symptomatic relief. The treatment typically takes 15-30 minutes. Sclerotherapy can be used on most regions of the body, including the legs, ankles, feet, and face. Sclerotherapy is performed by a specialized interventional radiologist. The technique involves the injection of sclerosant agents into malfunctioning veins. Sclerosant agents are substances that intentionally irritate the veins and cause scarring. Sclerosants also cause veins to collapse and close off. Blood flow is then diverted to healthy, surrounding veins.

9. Sclerotherapy is performed by a specialized interventional radiologist. The technique involves the injection of sclerosant agents into malfunctioning veins. Sclerosant agents are substances that intentionally irritate the veins and cause scarring. Sclerosants also cause veins to collapse and close off. Blood flow is then diverted to healthy, surrounding veins. Sclerotherapy does not generally require anesthesia and is not usually considered painful. However, you may experience some minor sensations of stinging or cramping during the procedure.

10. There are two types of Sclerotherapy treatment: Visual and Ultrasound-Guided. Which one is used depends on how deep your damaged veins are located. Both methods are performed as you lie on your back with legs elevated. Your doctor will first cleanse the area with alcohol, then numb it, if necessary. At USA Vein Clinics, we always use the smallest needle possible for your comfort. Visual Sclerotherapy for spider veins is the treatment of choice for tiny, visible, web-patterned spider veins located near the skin’s surface. Your vein specialist will use a small needle to inject a sclerosant agent into affected veins. This substance causes diseased veins to close off and collapse, diverting blood flow to healthy ones. Over time, the treated veins are reabsorbed by the body. There is no need for surgical removal.

11. Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy works similarly and can be used to treat spider veins or small varicose veins, also located relatively near the skin’s surface. This variation uses real-time, precision ultrasound imaging to guide the needle into deeper veins. These veins may be more difficult to find than those treated with Visual Sclerotherapy. As with Visual Sclerotherapy, an Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy injection irritates the impacted vessel and prompts it to collapse and close off. In the coming days or weeks, symptoms should reduce or resolve. The outer appearance of treated veins should also improve.

12. How to Prepare for Sclerotherapy Treatment If you are interested in pursuing Sclerotherapy treatment, you may be wondering what to expect before your procedure. Before scheduling treatment, you will have the opportunity to meet with one of our vein specialists. This is the perfect time to bring up any questions or concerns. During your appointment, we will discuss your medical history and any current medications you are taking (including supplements). Be sure to mention previous any vein treatments. To avoid potential complications, you may need to stop taking certain medications several days before treatment. Additionally, please avoid using lotion on your legs (or other treatment regions) before and after your procedure.

13. Your vein specialist may perform an ultrasound of your veins during your initial consultation. This is a painless procedure that gathers additional information and helps confirm that Sclerotherapy is the best course of treatment. We suggest wearing loose, comfortable clothing to the clinic. Some patients prefer to wear shorts to easily expose their legs. You may want to consider bringing a companion for support, but first check with your location about any potential COVID-19 restrictions. Your friend or family member may be required to wait outside or in the car. Most patients can drive themselves home.

14. Sclerotherapy Recovery After Sclerotherapy treatment, it’s time to move forward with your life. You are probably wondering, how long does it take to heal from Sclerotherapy? The good news is that after your procedure, you can leave immediately and return to most normal activities. The full length and extent of Sclerotherapy recovery can vary. For some patients, symptomatic relief is immediate. Others can expect improvement within a few weeks. Larger veins may take up to several months and require additional injections. Follow-up injections usually occur about one month apart.

15. Common Sclerotherapy side effects include: • Bruising • Stinging • Swelling • Skin discoloration • Discomfort • Raised red areas of skin • Brown lines on the skin If you experience any post-procedure discomfort, please contact your doctor. For pain relief, it may be recommended that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Ibuprofen.

16. Although serious health risks are rare, they can occur and may include: • Allergic reaction • Skin ulceration • Formation of blood clot • Infection If you suspect one or more of these potentially dangerous conditions, seek medical care immediately. One serious possibility, the development of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), is considered a medical emergency. DVT puts you at risk for a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening. Keep an eye out for DVT symptoms, which include pain, swelling, warmth, cramping, and discoloration. These usually occur only on one side of the body. If you notice any potential signs, please head to an emergency room right away.

17. Here’s what to avoid after Sclerotherapy: • Inactivity • Strenuous exercise • Heavy lifting • Sun • Hot baths • Swimming pools • The beach These limitations will probably be in place for several days to several weeks. During this time, we recommend going out for short, frequent walks throughout the day. You can even begin this walking routine on the same day as your treatment.

18. Sclerotherapy Treatment at USA Vein Clinics If you are suffering from vein disease, our experts can help. We are readily available to assess your overall vein health and recommend the appropriate treatment. If you don’t have vein disease but are considered at risk, we can closely monitor your vein health over time. This will allow us to catch potential issues early and offer the most effective treatment options. Sclerotherapy is usually covered by health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. However, some health insurance plans consider spider vein treatment to be cosmetic and won’t cover it. You can give us a call at 888.768.3467 to discuss your coverage details. We offer a number of financial resources that can help you obtain affordable care.