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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.

For people as they get older, there are three things that make their hands look aged. These will be age spots, veins and arthritis. There are a host of medical cosmetic treatments that can help reduce or eliminate these conditions. These will include chemical peels, microdermabrasion and intense pulsed light.

One procedure that is becoming very popular to reduce the aged look of hands is sclerotherapy. As the skin becomes thinner and there is a reduction in muscle tissues and fat deposits, veins in the hands and arms can appear enlarged. If those claims are injected with a sclerosant such as hypertonic saline, then it will irritate the lining of the vein. This will lead to scarring and eventually the vein will fade over time. This will result in the person having younger and smoother looking hands.

Doctors who do this type of vein therapy, insist that using sclerotherapy on the hand has several advantages over the more popular fat grafting cosmetic treatment, which focus on restoring soft tissues and fills the grooves between the bones in the backs of the hands.

Sclerotherapy done on the hand is the only cosmetic treatment that gives such good results in such a quick space of time.

Doctors have used sclerotherapy since the 1920s to treat varicose and spider veins. The first sclerosant, hypertonic saline, remains the choice of doctors today. There are other FDA-approved sclerosants that include sodium tetradecyl sulfate (Sotradecol), which many doctors use in addition to hypertonic saline.

The American College of Phlebotomy (ACP) classifies sodium tetradecyl sulfate as a detergent sclerosant, which destroys the vein How it works is that the detergent molecules come together to form a sheet that bothers the cell membrane surface and takes away certain proteins that will cause a cell death that is delayed.

There are potential complications associated with hand sclerotherapy. These are rare, but they include ulceration of the injection site, allergic reaction to the sclerosant (not applicable with hypertonic saline), tissue necrosis caused by injecting outside the vein, and propagation of thrombi.

Thrombi that form near the injection site, is very common in this procedure and will dissolve on their own.  Hyperpigmentation is a common side effect that usually comes based on leg sclerotherapy. It does not happen on the hands as the venous system in the arms and hands has a low pressure, while the legs have a high pressure.

Healing times for sclerotherapy may vary. Doctor’s state that around 5% of patients will experience bruising and 20% will experience short-term swelling.

Patients can expect to have on average around three visits to have sclerotherapy done. In addition to the first treatment, some patients may require more injections to the same vein. They may also need to remove some veins and treat thrombi. Some veins may require as many as two to four treatments before results are seen.

Many people often want to know what is sclerotherapy? Sclerotherapy is a medical treatment that is commonly used to roam all spider veins and varicose veins. This is done by using a salt sclerosant agents, that is injected into the affected vein. This solution will cause the blood vessels to enlarge and join together and also the clotting of blood will occur. The vessels that were injected with this solution will eventually form scar tissue, which fades over time.

What type of doctor should I use if I want to have scleortherapy done? If you are planning on having this procedure done, then you need to have a medical practitioner who is certified to do sclerotherapy. This would include a vascular surgeon or dermatologist. The doctor will go through your medical history and also perform a physical exam. From here they will determine what the best treatment plan is for you.

Who is a good candidate for sclerotherapy? From the results of the physical examination, the doctor will consider doing sclerotherapy dependent on the health of the patient. It should be noted that if a patient is bedridden or pregnant, they cannot have scleortherapy done.

How is the procedure done? Sclerotherapy is done by injecting a fine needle directly into the vein that contains a salt solution. A little discomfort might occur in the first couple of minutes in the procedure usually takes between 15 to 30 minutes.

What is the best way to prepare for the procedure?  When preparing for the sclerotherapy procedure it is recommended that the individual does not apply lotion on the legs. They should also avoid certain medications such as tetracycline which causes the skin to stain. The doctor may recommend avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen and or different types of anti-inflammatory medicines for 48 to 72 hours before the procedure.

What are the side effects of having the procedure done? After having sclerotherapy done, itching may occur in this can last between 1-2 days. Raised red areas may occur at the injection site, these however will disappear after a few days. The patient may experience minor bruising around the injection site. If larger veins have been treated, they may become hard and lumpy and might require several months to fade and dissolve.

What should I expect after having sclerotherapy done? After the procedure there is a good chance that you will be able to drive yourself home. Doctors recommend walking and also to wear a compression stocking.

What should be avoided after the procedure? Patients should avoid ibuprofen, aspirin or any types of anti-inflammatory medicines for at least 2 days.  The patient should also not have any hot compresses, hot baths , whirlpools for saunas and direct sunlight 48 hours after the sclerotherapy treatment.

How effective is sclerotherapy?  After the first treatment, 50 to 80% of injected veins may disappear. It is estimated that less than 10% of the people who have sclerotherapy do not respond to the injections. If the procedure is done properly, the veins will not reappear. It should be noted that new veins may appear at the same rate as before.