|
| New England Cosmetic Surgery (formerly The New England Vein and Lipo Center) - 242 Baker Avenue, Suite 306, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-6762
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the technique of injecting the unwanted veins with a solution that causes a chemical irritation to the vein wall. This causes the vein wall to form a scar which eventually blocks the flow of blood, redirecting the blood to healthy veins. Although the technique of sclerotherapy goes back almost to the invention of the hypodermic needle, it is within recent years that the technique has been refined significantly. As a result, sclerotherapy has achieved worldwide acceptance as a safe and effective treatment technique.
What types of veins can be treated with sclerotherapy?
Although there is some disagreement about the very largest diseased veins, many experts feel that any vein can be closed with sclerotherapy. There is no disagreement about the safety and effectiveness of using sclerotherapy to treat spider veins and other unsightly or uncomfortable moderate sized veins.
What is the treatment like and how long does it take?
After your evaluation, a treatment plan will be suggested. We will discuss with you the estimated number of treatments. This depends upon the type and extent of the varicose or spider veins to be treated. It is important to remember that the number of sessions can only be estimated, since every one responds differently to sclerotherapy. Also, the point at which an individual may be completely satisfied with the results may, of course, differ from person to person. A treatment session for spider veins can last up to 1(one) hour and involves multiple injection sites. The treatment session can be shorter if there is less to do. Injection of larger veins often involves fewer injection sites, requires more diligence and can’t be rushed.
Is the procedure painful?
In general the only pain associated with the procedure is that which is caused by the needle sticks. However, this is minimal since very small, fine needles are used. The solutions rarely, if ever, cause pain when injected. However, when larger veins are treated, there is often an inflammatory reaction along the vein that can cause some redness and soreness for several days. This is normal and often a sign of a good response. Any discomfort is usually relieved by compression and the need for taking even mild pain killers is rare.
When can I expect to see results ?
Although some people see results almost immediately, it can take weeks for the veins to resolve completely. With spider vein treatments the veins often will turn red, and bruising will occur at the injection site. This initial reaction usually goes away within seven days and then the veins slowly disappear over the next two to eight weeks. When larger veins are treated by injection, it is normal to also see some discoloration and bruising at the injection site and along the vein. Redness and slight soreness are also common , but not worrisome. Over several weeks the larger vein will scar down and appear as a black, slightly raised ridge. This will be progressively absorbed by the body over approximately 6-8 weeks. Occassionally longer periods of time are needed for the full effect.
What are the complications ?
Serious complications with sclerotherapy are very rare. Among the serious complications are clots in the veins deep in the leg, ulceration of the skin, allergic reactions to the medications and the injection of the solution into an artery. THESE ARE EXTREMELY RARE and should not be a major concern to you when deciding upon treatment. More common undesirable effects are matting, which is the formation of new fine red blood vessels at the treatment site and brown/gray skin staining which results from iron that gets in the skin from the blood in the treated vein. The skin stain will often go away on its own , but may take up to a year to fade and can be permanent. However, with new technology, both matting and skin staining can most often be treated effectively. Also, keep in mind that these undesirable effects occur less than 5% of the time when spider veins are being treated. Therefore, even if there is a small amount of matting or staining at some injections sites, the end result is always significant improvement, especially when compared to the previously unsightly veins that were treated.
|
|
