Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins

Varicose veins (veins that have become enlarged and twisted) can happen to anyone. They occur in the legs and not only look ugly as they grow bigger, but also make movement uncomfortable. However, varicose veins can be treated through sclerotherapy – a medical procedure in use since the 1930s for removal of varicose veins and spider veins. Sclerotherapy basically requires injecting a special chemical known as sclerosant precisely into the damaged vein. Sclerotherapy is normally done in a doctor’s chamber and the entire treatment session takes anything between five minutes and an hour depending on the number of varicose veins are being treated.

The Treatment

During the treatment of varicose veins using sclerotherapy, cosmetic injection is administered directly into the enlarged or varicose veins aggravating the inside layer of the damaged blood vessels. The aethoxysklerol injection makes the varicose veins swell up and attach together. This leads to the clotting of blood inside the varicose veins. Eventually, the varicose veins are converted into a blemished tissue and become paler before fading away.  During this process the affected leg is put on an elevated stand to draw off blood before administering and buy aethoxysklerol injection into the varicose veins. It is essential to apply pressure over the varicose veins after administering aethoxysklerol injections with a view to stop blood from returning when the patient stands up. The patient may be required to put on compression stocking or stretch bandages for a number of days after the vein removal treatment to sustain the pressure on the affected leg.

In fact, using aethoxysklerol injections for removal of varicose vein is quite painful and the sclerosant contained in the aethoxysklerol injections may cause burning or cramping sensations at the site of the injection. Normally, depending on the degree of varicose veins and the type of sclerosant used in the injections, a patient having varicose veins may require several shots of the aethoxysklerol injections. Several researches have established that removal of varicose veins as many as 50 to 80 per cent is possible with each session of sclerotherapy. Only less than 10 per cent of the people who have sclerotherapy do not respond to the aethoxysklerol injections at all. Normally, spider veins respond to the treatment in three to six weeks, and larger varicose veins respond in three to four months.

Side Effects

Using sclerotherapy for removal of varicose veins is associated with certain side effects. It has been commonly found that removal of vein by administering aethoxysklerol injections often change the color of the skin along the cured varicose veins. While the discoloration may cause a permanent scar in some people using aethoxysklerol injections, in others it may take six months to a year to fade away. Patients using sclerotherapy for removal of varicose veins may also experience pain, bruising, itching and blistering at the site where the aethoxysklerol injections have been administered. In the event aethoxysklerol injection is shot outside the varicose veins, it may result to ulcers or death of the tissues around the area. Sclerotherapy may also lead to blood clots or injure the deep vein system. One of the major risks of using sclerotherapy for removal of varicose veins is the failure of the treatment to put off the return of varicose veins at a later stage.

Precautions

People who have been administered aethoxysklerol injections for removal of varicose veins would likely be able to walk immediately after the treatment, but they need to take it easy for a couple of days. Although bed rest is not recommended after the vein removal treatment, patients should avoid all strenuous activities for a few days after sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy should not be used in women with varicose veins who are pregnant or lactating. This is primarily owing to the fact that so far it has not been ascertained whether the chemical sclerosant used in aethoxysklerol injections leads to birth defects or gets into breast milk. Aethoxysklerol injections should not be administered to people having a history of allergy to sclerosant or comparable substances. In addition, aethoxysklerol injections may prove to be detrimental to the health of people having blood clots or inflammation in the deep leg veins. People taking aethoxysklerol injections for removal of varicose veins should also not take hot baths, hot compresses, whirlpools or saunas or come under direct exposure to sunlight for a few days after the treatment. Always remember, sclerotherapy done for cosmetic purpose is not covered under insurance.

Wrapping Up

There are several benefits of using sclerotherapy for treating varicose veins. While sclerotherapy is inexpensive compared to surgery, removal of varicose vein through this medical procedure does not require the patient to be admitted to hospital. At the same time, vein removal using sclerotherapy enables a person to return to work and normal activities much quickly. In addition, sclerotherapy also diminishes symptoms and improves the appearance of the skin in 85 per cent of people who have smaller varicose veins.