Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy refers to a medical procedure that facilitates the elimination of spider veins and varicose veins in a patient's body. The solution induces irritation that causes the concerned veins to collapse and come together, along with propelled blood clotting. Since the 1930s, sclerotherapy has become a prominent procedure for relieving people of unbearable pain.

Body Location

All the scarred, varicose, and spider veins in the legs.

Preparation for Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy requires specific objectives met before the doctor undertakes the procedure. The patient must discuss the food or medicines they must avoid with the doctor. The doctors need to know the diet plans of the patient beforehand. Any application of lotion on the concerned legs becomes undoable. The doctors at Max Hospital Nanavati might ask the patients to avoid the consumption of medicines containing ibuprofen, aspirin, etc., and any other anti-inflammatory medication. Patients need to stop such consumption 48-72 hours before the therapy. Antibiotic consumption before the procedure depends on the doctor’s permission or recommendation.

How is Sclerotherapy Performed?

Here at Max Hospital Nanavati, the experienced team of doctors takes utmost care to ensure a successful therapy outcome. Our goal is to provide adequate treatment and mellow the pain of the patient. The procedure involves the doctor injecting sclerosing agents into the patient's veins through a needle. They may experience slight cramping and discomfort around the puncture point. The procedure on larger veins may cause extreme discomfort.

The procedure takes around 15 to 20 minutes to complete, and the number of veins worked on varies. The number of veins depends on the patient's medical condition, besides the location and size of the concerned veins. An experienced surgeon or a dermatologist at our hospital will undertake the procedure.

Procedure Type

Percutaneous

Follow Up

After undergoing a procedure like Sclerotherapy, the patient needs to undertake specific follow-up directives. The doctor might advise the patient to do the following;

• Except for when they shower or sleep, the patients should wear stockings or compression socks throughout the day.
• When patients experience pain or discomfort, they can consume Tylenol or other painkillers based on acetaminophen.
• Patients will need to avoid ibuprofen and aspirin at all costs.
• After the treatment, the patient should avoid swimming pools, sunbaths, hot baths, beaches, and saunas for the first two days.
• Avoid any aerobic exercise like running or swimming for a few days. Even so, keep the legs active to prevent blood clots.
• The doctors might advise the patient to avoid taking flights depending on the severity.

Risks For Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy can bring some side effects or risks with it. Knowing them is essential for the concerned patients as it will help them get immediate medical assistance.

• Scars And Bruises: The therapy will cause scarring around the veins that might take three to six months to disappear. For some, the scars remain till the end.
• Swelling: The injected veins might look lumpy and feel stiff. Such situations take months to resolve.
• Discoloured Skin: The skin around the treated area might get discoloured. Such issues get resolved through proper dermatological follow-up.

Recovery

Under normal circumstances, the situation gets better with procedural effectiveness. Varicose veins can take about 4 months to respond. Spider veins respond quicker, usually within three to four weeks. The smaller size and area coverage allows spider veins to recover sooner. Experienced dermatologists or the concerned surgeons will advise certain medicines to aid in quicker recovery. Proper follow-up after the procedure and guidelines will give the patients the results that they would want.