How is Sclerotherapy performed?

Sclerotherapy is the preferred method for eliminating fine and large spider veins as well as smaller varicose veins that are not suitable for the Radiofrequency ablation procedure.

The sclerosing solution is injected into the vein with a tiny needle. As the solution is injected, it displaces the blood within the vessel. When the solution comes in contact with the wall of the vein, it propels a chemical reaction at the cellular level. That causes the vein to die and heal shut. The abnormal veins then gradually fade and disappear. Sclerotherapy is performed in the doctor’s rooms. A typical session of sclerotherapy takes approximately 45 minutes to perform. However, it can take up to or over an hour to perform for cases that are more extensive. The first session can also take longer to perform as it is often the most intensive. It is not unusual to require more than one treatment session to attain the desired results, particularly for more extensive leg veins. The number of veins injected per session can vary, depending on the size, appearance and location of the veins, as well as, the patient’s overall medical condition. Dr. Popov will provide you with an approximate duration that the particular session should take and estimate the number of treatments that will be required after examining your legs.

What Kind of Results Can Be Expected?

Sclerotherapy is very effective for patients who have a cosmetic condition with no underlying medical cause to the aesthetic damage, such as venous reflux disease. It has also yielded exceptional results in more medicinal cases where larger perforator veins or varicosities were treated, often being the causal or “feeder” veins responsible for the visible cosmetic damage. It has even assisted in the healing of stubborn venous ulcers, by sclerosing the branches immediately responsible for “feeding” the ulcer. A 70-80% fading and dissipation of the treated veins is expected, although more than one treatment session may be required. The more extensive the appearance of abnormal veins, the more treatments will typically be required to get the desired results. Individual results will vary, as does everybody’s anatomy. If the doctor is not satisfied with the initial response to a scerotherapy session, often a higher concentration of the sclerosing solution will be used during the following session or an alternative solution will be used during subsequent sessions.