sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapyis a medical procedure used to eliminate uncomplicated varicose veins and spider veins. Sclerotherapy involves an injection of a solution (generally a salt solution) directly into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel, causing it to collapse and stick together and the blood to clot. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view.

In general, the sclerotherapy procedure is an excellent choice as long as you aren’t pregnant or have a history of blood clots in the treatment area. Most vein specialists prefer sclerotherapy for spider veins over laser treatments, particularly on the legs.

After cleansing the area, your provider will use a very fine needle to inject the solution into the affected vein(s). After treatment, you only need to wear compression stockings to help the vein collapse against itself. 

One of the great things about a sclerotherapy procedure is that it carries no downtime. You will be able to immediately return to your regular routine. We even encourage you to continue your normal fitness routine, as it will help speed along recovery.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the success rate of sclerotherapy remains steady at approximately 60 to 80 percent. In the 20 to 40 percent of cases where treatment doesn’t show full results after a single treatment, the sclerotherapy procedure can be repeated to improve your results.