Sclerotherapy

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What are the veins that we treat?

The cause of reticular and spider veins is not known. However, studies show that approximately 25% have disease in bigger deeper veins that is not yet apparent and that treating the surface veins without controlling diseased deep veins leads to poor outcome. For this reason, we advise that all patients with superficial cosmetic veins have an ultrasound scan to look for deeper disease.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a "sclerosant" directly into each vein with very fine needles. The sclerosant used (Aethoxysklerol - polidocanol) is a detergent and acts by washing away the lining of the vein allowing the two walls to stick together. Sclerotherapy was introduced in the 1920s and made popular in the 1960s when it was shown to be effective for non-saphenous varicosities. Polidocanol was introduced into Australia nearly 20 years ago and was extensively investigated here in a trial involving more than 30,000 patients.

Sclerotherapy is used to treat smaller veins that are not associated with reflux into the main saphenous veins and also to treat residual veins left after other forms of treatment. Most patients can expect at least a 75 percent improvement in the appearance of their legs.

Multiple treatment sessions are frequently required. It takes up to several weeks to show maximum benefit after one treatment session. Perfection cannot be guaranteed.

What should you do before sclerotherapy?

What happens during sclerotherapy?

What should you do after sclerotherapy?

What can you expect following sclerotherapy?

The following features are expected and do not need to be reported:

What are the possible complications from sclerotherapy?

Complications can occur even with perfect technique.