Table of contents:
- What is sclerotherapy?
- Who is in need?
- How to get rid of varicose veins with sclerotherapy
- Recovery tips after sclerotherapy
- Is there a risk of complications that might occur?
Varicose veins are not only a problem for the beauty of the feet for women, but also a health problem. If left untreated, varicose veins can cause pain and swelling due to leaking leg veins. You may also experience frequent leg cramps at night. Not infrequently, varicose veins can cause bleeding. One way to get rid of varicose veins that has been shown to be effective is sclerotherapy.
What is sclerotherapy?
Varicose veins are caused by blood that should be flowing to the heart instead returning to the legs, because the venous valves that carry blood to the heart are weakened and do not close properly. As a result, the trapped blood in the leg veins increases the pressure around the walls and makes the veins dilate.
Sclerotherapy is a way to get rid of varicose veins through a medical procedure at a doctor, by injecting a chemical called sclerosant into the veins in the legs that cause varicose veins. Sclerosants generally contain a combination of hypertonic salts, sodium tetradecil sulfate, polydocanols, and glycerin chromate that work together to shrink blood vessels.
Apart from removing varicose veins, sclerotherapy is also used to treat spider veins.
Who is in need?
Sclerotherapy is often performed to get rid of stubborn varicose veins, which don't go away with natural treatments or medications from a doctor. Scelotherapy is also used as a way to get rid of varicose veins that are accompanied by painful symptoms, such as swollen feet, a burning sensation, and cramps at night.
You are not allowed to perform this procedure if:
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding. The safety of the ingredients of the injected scelerosant composition is not yet known, whether it can cause birth defects or pass into breast milk.
- Have a history of allergies to sclerosants or the like.
- Have blood clots or swelling of the blood vessels.
- Has veins that can potentially be used for heart bypass surgery.
Before doing sclerotherapy, you should first consult with your dermatologist.
How to get rid of varicose veins with sclerotherapy
Before doing sclerotherapy, your doctor will check your medical history and also evaluate your veins thoroughly. The aim is to detect any vascular disease and other ailments or allergies that could hinder the procedure. The doctor will explain the sclerotherapy procedure, the recovery process, and the potential complications that may arise.
The doctor will inject a sclerosant solution slowly and directly into the vein using a fine needle. Each injection contains 0.1-0.4 ml of sclerosan solution and is injected every 2-3 cm until all vessels are treated. Sclerotherapy is an outpatient medical procedure.
Recovery tips after sclerotherapy
After the sclerotherapy procedure, you may be able to walk immediately after treatment. Walk every day for at least 10 minutes. Try not to sit for long periods of time. But avoid strenuous exercise for 1 week after the procedure.
Also avoid direct contact between the treated feet and sunlight during the first 2 weeks after the procedure. You may need to temporarily wear special stockings or trousers during outdoor activities to prevent sun exposure.
Is there a risk of complications that might occur?
Just like any other medical procedure, sclerotherapy has its own risks of complications even though it is a simple and effective non-surgical procedure to remove varicose veins. Complications can range from mild to more severe side effects and require treatment.
Some of the side effects of sclerotherapy that are classified as mild to moderate may take days, weeks, or even months and years to completely go away. Among them:
- The area where the injection was used is red and bruised
- Small cuts in the skin
- You can see many small red blood vessels on the surface of the skin
- Pigmentation or darkening of the skin
- Lines or patches on the skin
Meanwhile, complications are more serious and require treatment, including:
- Blood clot
- Inflammation
- Allergic reaction to the substance used, which can cause urticarial or anaphylaxis
- Air bubbles in the bloodstream
- Edema
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Myocardial infarction
The use of special varicose stockings measuring 30 mm / Hg can help reduce this serious risk. Stockings should be used every day for 3 weeks, starting from the first night after undergoing sclerotherapy.
