How does Sclerotherapy work?
A solution is injected with a very small needle, superficially into the veins, causing the lining of the vein to swell and become sticky. Compression is then applied to close the veins. Over a period of the time the vein will heal, close and fade away.
Is the treatment painful?
Most patients experience minimal if any discomfort. During the days following treatment, you may experience mild itching and tenderness around the treated area whilst the damaged vein is breaking down.
How many treatments are required?
It varies from patient to patient but generally up to 4 treatments are recommended at 3 monthly intervals. Milder cases may require fewer treatments. Maintenance treatments may be needed every 2 to 3 years.
What happens after Sclerotherapy?
For several days after treatment the injection sites look similar to insect bites, this soon subsides and is replaced by small bruises that fade within one to two weeks. Improvements are usually noticed within 6 to 8 weeks.
What aftercare is recommended following treatment?
- Take a 10 minute walk immediately after treatment.
- Wear your support hosiery day and night as advised, after 48 hrs you may take the stocking off, discard the cotton balls and have a short cool shower or bath. Do not be alarmed that the thread veins look worse, this is normal at this stage.
- Thereafter, wear your support stockings during the day for 7 days, you may take them off at night.
- Avoid exposure to the extremes of temperature for 14 days
- Avoid sun exposure for 4 weeks
- Avoid high impact exercise for 2 weeks
- Avoid waxing of the legs for 6 weeks
- Elevate your legs as much as possible for the first 2 weeks
- Consider delaying air travel for 2 weeks or check with your travel insurance company.
What are possible complications of Sclerotherapy?
Though safe, it is not entirely without risk. Although rare, the two most common side effects are called staining and matting.
Reddish-brown staining is leakage of old blood from the damaged vein and usually slowly fades over months.
Matting is the development of new, tiny red blood vessels that appear days or months after the procedure. They should slowly fade but if persistent can be treated with the Nd Yag laser.
Other much rarer complications include a reaction to the agent causing irritation around the vein resulting in blistering. If not treated correctly, small superficial ulcers can develop.
Is the treatment safe?
Sclerotherapy has been used in medicine for in excess of 30 years.
Our expert medical team has in excess of 30 years experience and have completed more than 150,000 successful treatments. Rest assured you are in safe hands. All procedures at our Cambridge Laser Clinic are performed by fully qualified doctors, nurses and practitioners.
To ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained at all times, our staff are never offered bonus incentives to sell treatments.
Although medical laser clinics are no longer regulated by the CQC (Care Quality Commission), we continue to adhere to the strict standards that were in the past mandatory under government legislation. This is the best indicator currently available that our Cambridge Laser Clinic is trustworthy.
All consultations are free of charge so why not call our team of experts today?