Sclerotherapy is one treatment option for varicose and spider veins. A simple salt solution with local anesthetic is injected into the veins. This salt solution irritates the vein lining, causing the vein to collapse, shrink, and become out of sight. One sclerotherapy session usually lasts between 15 to 45 minutes. The doctor will usually give one injection for every inch of spider or varicose vein. Often, there will be around 40 injections per session.

The patient needs to have at least 2 sclerotherapy sessions. This is a cosmetic procedure which is generally not covered by insurance, unless the doctor proves that the sclerotherapy session is required to eliminate pain, rather than simply for cosmetic reasons.

Sclerotherapy is not always permanent, and it can only be done to veins that are already varicose or spider. Sclerotherapy does not prevent varicose or spider veins.

Generally, healthy people between the ages of 30 to 60 are candidates for sclerotherapy. Ask your doctor for more information.

You should also consider the alternatives to sclerotherapy. VNUS vein closure and laser treatment are two common alternatives.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 4:25 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.