About Sclerotherapy
Conventional Sclerotherapy
Most varicose vein problems can now be treated safely, effectively, and practically painlessly with an exciting office procedure called sclerotherapy.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy (the evaluation and treatment of varicose veins via the injection of a sclerosing chemical into the diseased veins) is a precise, highly technical cosmetic procedure.
The Procedure
The doctor, called a medical phlebologist, first takes a generalized health history from the patient then performs a detailed examination of the patient's venous system. Depending upon the degree of vein disease and patient symptoms, special instruments (a duplex ultrasound machine which makes images of the veins deep in the legs and groin, or a Digital PhotoPlethysmograph which measures the function of the patients' venous system) may be used to help the phlebologist determine exactly what is causing varicose veins and precisely where sclerotherapy injection should be placed to obtain the best results. Then, once the examination is completed, the physician makes a specific treatment plan of sclerotherapy injection therapy, compression stockings, and sometimes combined therapy involving endovenous laser treatment, sclerotherapy injections and a minor operation called an ambulatory phlebotomy.
The sclerotherapy injection procedure is done as follows: the physician, usually under magnification, systematically and according to his treatment plan injects a tiny amount of a special chemical called a sclerosing agent deep into the varicose veins. Special needles and syringes are used to insure a precise injection. Sometimes the injection is even guided by ultrasound. When all veins that can be injected are treated, special dressings and a special stocking called a pressure gradient stocking are placed over the treated leg or legs. Post treatment instructions are given and the patient is sent home.
Patients are advised to take a brisk 15 to 20 minute walk immediately following sclerotherapy, and usually the patient can go right back to work with no interruption of their daily activity schedule.
Follow-up Treatment
A day or two following treatment, the patient is usually telephoned by a medical assistant to check how things are going. Then, in about three to four weeks Dr. Wilson will examine the treated areas to check the effects of the sclerotherapy treatment. If things have gone as expected, treated veins will have been sclerosed on the inside and will begin dissolving. If additional treatments are necessary, remaining veins are treated again, and so forth. Simple spider veins usually require just one or two treatments, but deeper reticular veins and larger varicose veins may be treated two, three or even more times depending upon the patient's individual response to treatment, how well the patient follows after treatment advice, and how bad the venous disease is.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
High tech ultrasound machines are used in many areas of clinical medicine to provide a visual window to structures beneath the surface of the skin. These same machines, used to visualize diseased refluxing veins deep under the surface of the skin, can now enable doctors trained in ultrasound guided sclerotherapy to safely and effectively treat the actual leaking vein causing varicose veins and spiders seen on the surface of the skin.
Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy gets to the source of the disease - the refluxing or leaking vein - and in doing so treats all types of diseased veins and spiders better, quicker, and more effectively than they've ever been treated before.
What are the benefits of ultrasound guided sclerotherapy as compared to conventional sclerotherapy?
Better results. Quicker Results. Less Expense.
Because only ultrasound guided sclerotherapy gets to the source of diseased veins deep under the surface of the skin, results from sclerotherapy treatment performed via ultrasound guidance tends to be much better. Large varicose veins can go away quickly and completely without surgery. Spider veins and so-called feeder veins (reticular veins) often fade with fewer treatments and cosmetically better results than when treated with conventional sclerotherapy or laser alone. Since because ultrasound guided sclerotherapy gets to the source of the disease (reflux), the results of treatment tend to be more permanent and less expensive because fewer treatment sessions are necessary to get the job done.
When looking for sclerotherapy treatment, we suggest everyone inquire whether ultrasound guided sclerotherapy would be the right choice of treatment for them, whether they have large varicose veins or even small spiders.
Is ultrasound guided sclerotherapy only for large varicose veins?
No. Remember that all diseased veins on the surface of the skin - even spider veins - are caused, to some degree, by reflux. Only ultrasound guided sclerotherapy can "see" beneath the skin to allow treatment of feeder veins causing spiders. Therefore, nearly all new patients of Willamette Vein Centré - even those with only spider veins - undergo at least one ultrasound guided sclerotherapy treatment to be sure all sources of reflux are treated at the beginning treatment process.
Find Out if Sclerotherapy is Right for You
Perhaps you know that sclerotherapy is just what you've been waiting for, and you're ready to schedule an appointment to get started. That's great. Just give us a call at (503) 399-0644 or (866) VEINS01 and schedule your appointment for a venous examination.
If you're not exactly sure, or you'd like to know more, we can help you with that too. Simply call us and ask to have Brief Sclerotherapy Assessment. This brief examination will be done by Dr. Wilson for a fee of only a $75 charge to the patient; afterwards, Dr. Wilson will discuss your treatment plan with you.