MEDICAL SPA PROCEDURES

DETAILS

Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat blood vessels or blood vessel malformations (vascular malformations) and also those of the lymphatic system. A medicine is injected into the vessels, which makes them shrink. It is used for children and young adults with vascular or lymphatic malformations. In adults, sclerotherapy is often used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Sclerotherapy is one method, along with surgery, radiofrequency and laser ablation, for treatment of varicose veins and venous malformations. In ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, ultrasound is used to visualize the underlying vein so the physician can deliver and monitor the injection. Sclerotherapy should be done under ultrasound guidance after venous abnormalities have been diagnosed with duplex ultrasound. Sclerotherapy under ultrasound guidance and using microfoam sclerosants has been shown to be effective in controlling reflux from the sapheno-femoral and sapheno-popliteal junctions. However, some authors believe that sclerotherapy is not suitable for veins with reflux from the greater or lesser saphenous junction, or veins with axial reflux (above the knees).

PROCEDURE
Injecting the unwanted veins with a sclerosing solution causes the target vein to immediately shrink, and then dissolve over a period of weeks as the body naturally absorbs the treated vein.

Unlike a laser, the sclerosing solution additionally closes the "feeder veins" under the skin that are causing the spider veins to form, thereby making a recurrence of the spider veins in the treated area less likely. Multiple injections of dilute sclerosant are injected into the abnormal surface veins of the involved leg.

RECOVERY
The patient's leg is then compressed with either stockings or bandages that they wear usually for 2 weeks after treatment. Patients are also encouraged to walk regularly during that time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What causes unwanted veins?
Red veins, blue veins or purple veins on the leg and face can be a result of sun exposure, use of oral contraception, hormone therapy, age or genetics.

How many treatments are required?
It is common practice for the patient to require at least 2 treatment sessions separated by several weeks to significantly improve the appearance of their leg veins.

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