Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a technique in which a very fine needle is used to inject a solution such as Asclera, directly into the blood vessel. This solution causes an inflammation of the cells that line the vein. In response, the veins close up and collapse, no longer visible on the surface of the skin. The procedure itself takes just a few minutes and the veins disappear in 4 to 6 weeks.

People resume normal activities immediately. And there is no need for them to go home and put their feet up or be incapacitated in any way. That's the beauty of sclerotherapy. It is a completely out-patient office procedure. The good news is that sclerotherapy offers relief to just about anyone. Sclerotherapy's success rate is over 90-percent, which is a phenomenal number for any medical procedure.

Q: Which is more effective for leg veins: laser or sclerotherapy?

A: Sclerotherapy. In side by side testing, injection sclerotherapy was more effective for small to medium veins than laser therapy. This was published by Lupton and Alster. In my practice, I have done several side by side smaller trials and found that almost 100% of patients preferred the results of sclerotherapy to laser. The cost for sclerotherapy is less as well, and with the newest sclerosant, Asclera, the procedure is virtually painless. There is a place for laser and radiofrequency, as well as surgery, for severe varicose veins.

For additional information on sclerotherapy please read the following articles:
Avoid these medications for at least two weeks prior to injections: Aspirin or Ibuprofen, Fish Oil, Vitamin E, “G” supplements (ginko, ginseng, garlic), St. John's Wort and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like Celebrex, as they may cause thinning of the blood.