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Sclerotherapy
is a procedure
in which a
chemical
solution is
injected into
veins to cause
them to
collapse and
form scar
tissue that
permanently
closes them.
Nearby veins
take up
re-routed blood
flow.
Sclerotherapy
requires
multiple
treatments to
close off all
affected veins.
Additional
treatments may
be needed from
time to time as
new enlarged
veins appear.
Side effects of
sclerotherapy
may include
slight
swelling,
bruising, and
redness and
itching at
injection
sites.
The procedure
may also remedy
the bothersome
symptoms
associated with
spider veins,
including
aching,
burning,
swelling and
night cramps.
Sclerotherapy
works well for
most patients.
After several
treatments,
most patients
can expect an
80 - 90 percent
improvement.
Fading will
gradually occur
over months.
Disappearance
of treated
spider veins is
usually
achieved, but
similar veins
may appear in
the same
general area.
It is estimated
that as many as
50 percent to
80 percent of
injected veins
may be
eliminated with
each injection
session. A few
(less than 10
percent) of the
people who have
sclerotherapy
do not respond
to the
injections at
all. In these
instances,
different
solutions or a
different
method, such as
laser therapy,
may be tried.
There are four
categories of
veins which are
of interest in
an examination
by a
sclerotherapist:
The deep veins
are buried
beneath skin,
muscle, and
bone and cannot
be seen except
during surgery.
The superficial
veins are the
ones you can
see just under
the skin. The
perforator
veins connect
the two
systems.
Reticular veins
are incompetent
superficial
veins. Varicose
veins are
superficial
veins which are
not only
incompetent,
but are
swollen,
elongated (and
thus
serpentine) as
a result. The
most
fundamental
problems must
be fixed first
and these are,
in order:
incompetent
deep veins,
incompetent
perforator
veins,
incompetent
superficial
veins
(reticular and
varicose
veins), and
finally the
spider veins.
In general,
spider veins
respond to
treatment in 3
to 6 weeks, and
larger veins
respond in 3 to
4 months. If
the veins
respond to the
treatment, they
will not
reappear.
However, new
veins may
appear over
time. If
needed, you may
return for
injections.
If you
need more
information
or would
like to
schedule
and
appointment
for a
consultation,
please
click here
to contact
us or
call one
of our
offices
at:
(212)
593-1818
New York
(516)
512-7616
Long
Island |
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