Varicose and spider veins are often a cosmetic problem that you can do without. Sometimes they’re symptomatic, causing itching, pain, or fatigue, while at other times they simply look ugly and gnarled.
If you’re in good health, Dr. Clement Banda and the team at MD Vein & Skin Specialists in Columbia, Maryland, offer several versions of a minimally invasive treatment called sclerotherapy that may be the answer. Treatment now can mean clear legs come the warmer months.
So, what is sclerotherapy, and is it right for you? The mainstay of the treatment involves injecting a substance called a sclerosant into varicose or spider veins. The sclerosant kills the offending vein, and your body responds by clearing away the dead vein.
Recovery from the treatment is quick and easy, but since the process depends on your body to eliminate tissue, results take time, making winter the best time to get started.
Liquid sclerotherapy is the oldest form of the treatment, but it’s usually reserved for spider veins or small varicose veins these days.
Foam sclerotherapy is more effective at blocking larger veins because the liquid is mixed with a gas to create a foam. This displaces blood from the vein, improving results while using less sclerosant solution and achieving faster results than liquid alone.
Deeper veins may require ultrasound guidance for foam sclerosant delivery, as not all varicose veins are visible through the skin.
Some veins just aren’t candidates for sclerotherapy and may require procedures like endovenous thermal ablation, which require anesthetics. Varithena™ is an FDA approved foam sclerosant. Physicians often make up the foam at the bedside using a different FDA approved liquids sclerosant and gas.
It’s important to know that sclerotherapy doesn’t produce instant results. However, it’s a safe procedure from which you need to recover only from a few injection sites. If you’re cosmetic appearance is the only concern, chances are sclerotherapy is all you need to improve the appearance of your legs.
You may not be a good candidate for sclerotherapy if you have a history of blood clots or deep vein thrombosis. Walking is an important part of your recovery, so we don’t recommend sclerotherapy for those with mobility issues.
Breastfeeding or pregnant women should wait for vein treatment with sclerosants. Very large veins, too large for treatment with sclerotherapy, require surgical care.
Find out more in consultation with Dr. Banda and the team at MD Vein & Skin Specialists. Call or click to book your appointment today.
