At Lasers in Medicine, we are experts in vein sclerotherapy, having performed thousands of treatments here in Adelaide.
Sclerotherapy is procedure where a solution called a sclerosing solution is injected with a very fine needle directly into the blood vessel. This can be either ultrasound-guided in the case of larger veins, or direct vision in the case of spider veins.
Your doctor will advise you of the preferred method of treatment depending on your condition.
Dilated blood vessels on the legs, sometimes called ‘BROKEN CAPILLARIES’ or ‘SPIDER VEINS’ are best treated using the injection method called SCLEROTHERAPY. Some vessels are too large to be treated with this method, and may require Endovenous Laser Ablation. Your doctor will advise you of the best treatment options.
The cause is unknown except that in many cases they seem to run in families. Women develop them to a far greater extent than men and there is no doubt that hormonal influences aggravate them – adolescence, pregnancy and menopause. They also appear to be associated with obesity and occupations involving prolonged standing. Once a person has this tendency towards venous disease of the legs it is always with them. Therefore the aim of treatment is to treat whatever is visible now, but you should expect that further veins will naturally appear from time to time.
A tiny needle is used to inject the vessel being treated. Then the sclerosant solution is injected which causes a mild stinging sensation. Generally one injection per vein or “spray” of interconnecting veins is needed.
A cotton swab is taped over each injection site. It is wise to wear a long skirt or loose trousers when coming for treatment. The average treatment session is 20-30 minutes. It takes anywhere between 2 and 6 treatments to inject all veins of both legs. Your doctor will advise you during the consultation as to how many treatments you can expect.
For 1-2 weeks the vessels may appear more prominent. The injection sites can be red and raised. You may experience aching in the legs for a day or so after treatment which is relieved by walking. You can take a Panadol to relieve the aching. Often there is extensive bruising over the legs especially if large veins are treated. Your doctor with advise you whether wearing medical grade compression will be necessary.
The veins begin to fade after a week or two and continue to do so for up to 8 weeks. After 6-8 weeks the larger veins will need to be treated again. Most patients will need between l-4 treatments depending on the severity of their leg veins.
After all veins large enough to be injected have been sclerosed there are frequently a few tiny pink vessels remaining. These are impossible to inject further as they are smaller than the size of the needle and do not respond to laser treatment. Patients should have realistic expectations that while 90% clearance is common, a 100% disappearance of all veins is rare.
As mentioned earlier it is normal to have some new veins appear from time to time. Often people book a “maintenance” treatment each winter to “tidy up” for summer.
Maintain normal daytime activities.
Walk at least half an hour per day – the more the better as this works calf muscles and pumps blood through other vessels back to the heart. Walking reduces pressure in superficial veins.
Standing for prolonged periods must be avoided for 2 weeks following injection sessions unless you are wearing compression stockings.
Avoid strenuous activity (aerobics and weightlifting) for the first 72 hours as as directed by your doctor. However, daily walking is important as it will relieve most of the aching from your treatment. Wear your compression stocking daily as advised by your Doctor.
At Lasers in Medicine, we understand that every patient is unique. That’s why we tailor our sclerotherapy treatments in Adelaide to meet your specific needs, ensuring the best possible outcomes. Your satisfaction and well-being are our top priorities.
