Month: July 2009

Should You Consider Foam Sclerotherapy Treatment?

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foam-sclerotherapy

We have touched on sclerotherapy in great detail on this blog. We have spoken about the many different benefits that are associated with the use of this particular procedure to get rid of varicose and spider veins. We have looked at how effective it is at reducing or totally removing the veins from the legs and other parts of the body.

In general we have give sclerotherapy a stamp of approval. It is one of those procedures that someone who suffers from spider veins or varicose veins should really consider.

Even with the success of sclerotherapy, we have come across a new method that has proven itself to be more effective. This would be foam sclerotherapy.

Many people have been asking if they should have foam sclerotherapy done and our answer to this question is a resounding yes.

What Exactly is Foam Sclerotherapy?

Foam Sclerotherapy this one of the newest ways in which the sclerosing agent can be delivered to the varicose or spider vein that needs to be treated. It essentially puts the sclerosing agent in a foam, then it is injected into the vein. Foam has a better advantage over the old method as the foam will now be in direct contact with the vein itself. This means for a longer period of time, the sclerosing agent will be able to be in contact with the wall of the vein. Another reason is that foam can be shown on ultrasound, which means it is much easier to track and guide the foam to the part of the vein that is problematic. This makes foam sclerotherapy even more accurate for the treatment of certain conditions.

Foam sclerotherapy is considered to be extremely safe, however with any medical procedure there are possible side effects that can happen. In a small amount of patients that were treated, some of them experienced an allergic reaction. Other symptoms and side effects that patients stated that they experienced included headaches, coughs and eye problems.

According to many doctors who treat varicose veins, they often come to the conclusion that foam sclerotherapy is one of the best options available for the treatment of the condition. They say it is very effective and it gives better results compared to veins that do not respond to the use of liquid sclerotherapy.

Will Varicose Veins be Removed With Sclerotherapy?

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sclerotherapy-veins

If you suffer from varicose spider veins then you probably have heard about sclerotherapy (injection therapy) to reduce or remove those problematic and unsightly veins. Sclerotherapy works where a sclerosing solution is injected into the vein that needs to be treated. This solution will cause the spider or varicose veins to collapse and stick together. Over time the veins will eventually shrink to the point that they look reduced or are totally removed from the skin.

How Effective is Sclerotherapy at Removing Varicose Veins?

People who go in to have the sclerotherapy procedure done often want to know how effective it is at removing spider and varicose veins. According to statistics that is available, around 50-80% of the veins that are treated with the sclerosing agent eventually disappear or have a reduced look over time. There is only a small percentage (10%), which shows no reaction to the treatment. This percentage is extremely good and people who have problems with there being should definitely consider this treatment.

What Goes Into the Sclerotherapy Treatment?

The sclerotherapy treatments are really quick and not extremely painful. The entire treatment can take anywhere from 45 mins – 1 hour in a doctor’s office. The beauty of this treatment is the fact that there is a short recovery period.

There is very little pain when getting sclerotherapy injections. People often describe it as needle pricks and there negligible pain after the procedure has been done. Usually there will be some burning, itching bruising and redness in the treated area. This pain can be described as mild and it won’t keep you home for days.

Generally also the people who go and have sclerotherapy done are often satisfied with the results of their treatment. Some people will need to go back for multiple treatments if they want to totally get rid of the problem veins.

It should be noted that sclerotherapy does not guarantee that there will be no spider or varicose veins in the future. It however has the ability to lighten or full get rid of those that are currently there. It will take a few weeks to see the desired results, but when that does occur, then the individual who has the treatment will be able to step out in style and confidence.

What Should Be Done Before Sclerotherapy?

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checklist

If you have made the decision to have the sclerotherapy treatment, then there are certain things that should be done before you go in. These activities should be avoided before sclerotherapy as it could have an adverse effect on the treatment and could possibly cause unwanted side effects to occur.

1.       Medications Should be Avoided Leading up to the Sclerotherapy Treatment – Your doctor should be made aware of the different medications that you are taking if you plan on having sclerotherapy done. This should be told to him during the initial consultation. If you are taking antibiotic medications, then he should know. The same could be said about the powerful antibiotics Minocin and Tetracycline. These may cause the skin to stain if taken 7-10 days before or after the sclerotherapy procedure.

2.       Do Not Take Prednisone – This will have the ability to reduce the effectiveness of the sclerosing agent that is used. If you are taking it, consult with your doctor to find out about discontinuing its use for 48 hours before sclerotherapy is done.

3.       Do Not Take Ibuprofen (Nuprin), Aspirin (Advil) – These medications should be avoided as well as other anti-inflammatory drugs. This should be done 48 hours before and after the treatment. The reason behind this is that there is a good possibility that these products may interact with the sclerosing agent. Tylenol can be used however. You should consult with your doctor about what is safe and what is not.

4.       You Should Not Lotion the Skin – Lotion should not be applied to the skin before and after sclerotherapy treatment.

5.       Use Compression Hosiery – If you have done sclerotherapy before and have compression hosiery lying around, then you should bring them so they can be applied once the treatment has been finished.

Is Sclerotherapy Worth It?

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Sclerotherapy is new rage when it comes to the treatment of spider veins and varicose veins. Many people have claimed that this treatment has reduced or removed their vein problem in their legs completely. Many people who are planning on having the treatment done, often want to know if sclerotherapy is worth not only the pain, but also the cost.

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a very popular medical procedure that is often used in the treatment of spider and varicose veins.  The procedure requires that the veins be injected with a chemical solution through the use of a very fine needle. Once the solution reaches inside the veins, it will begin to irritate the vessel’s lining. Once this occurs the blood will begin to clot and the lining will swell and stick together. Over a period of time, the vessel will begin scarring and eventually disappear.

The number of treatments that are needed to get rid of the vein often depend on its size and also how well it responds to the sclerotherapy injections.

This treatment has been used since the 1930’s for the treatment of various vein issues.

Is Sclerotherapy Worth It?

Most people agree that sclerotherapy this worth the price. It has been proven to be very successful at reducing or eliminating varicose and spider veins. There are statistics out there that show that around 50-80% of the veins that are injected via sclerotherapy can be eliminated totally. There is a small group of around 10% that showed no really improvement in their vein problems once sclerotherapy was administered.

Generally, the veins that are treated by sclerotherapy often show improvement after a couple of weeks. Larger veins that are treated will begin to see improvement after a couple of months. Some people may have to go for touch up treatments as new veins can often appear at any given time.

Because of this high success rates, many people agree that the slight discomfort is well worth it. The pain and side effects experienced during and after the surgery is usually not extreme. Some people may experience some bruising, itching, swelling and redness in the area. These symptoms will often go away after a couple of days.

Individuals who have had sclerotherapy done state that the price is not bad for the results that they achieve from the treatment. Compared to laser vein treatments, sclerotherapy is around 1/3 the cost. This makes it perfect for people who want to get rid of their veins, but would not have the money for more expensive treatments.

If you have varicose are spider veins then you should consult with your doctor about the sclerotherapy treatment. This procedure has been proven to effectively reduce the look of varicose veins that occurs on the legs.