ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY
And COSMETIC SURGERY
Office Hours
Weekdays 8am-5pm
477 N. El Camino Real, Ste. A300
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 436-8700
What Is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is the preferred treatment of minimizing small superficial leg veins. It involves the insertion of a tiny needle into the blood vessel where a small amount of a sclerosing agent is gently injected. This causes "sclerosis" which is the formation of fibrous tissue within the blood vessel, leading to the gradual disappearance of that vessel. Fading of the vessel may take from a few weeks to several months.
How Many Treatments Are Needed?
Many people do well with a single treatment; however, it is not unusual to require two to three treatment sessions for a lasting effect. For certain people with large quantities of treatable veins, more than one session may be needed.
How Long Does It Last?
Sclerotherapy is capable of targeting only the small veins that are present at the time of \treatment, but does not prevent the development of new veins in a person with that tendency. While there may be a long term disappearance of treated veins, new ones could develop in the susceptible person.
Is It Safe? Can Anyone Get Sclerotherapy?
Most people tolerate the treatment very well without significant adverse effects. Rarely, in less than 0.01of treated patients, an allergic reaction to the sclerosant can be seen. There are also certain people who should not undergo sclertotherapy: pregnant women, people with multiple large and/or painful varicose veins, people with a history of a deep venous thrombosis/ pulmonary emobolus/ clotting disorder, people with heart or liver disease, HIV, or recent cancer or chemotherapy.
Would Laser Treatment Be Better?
Sclertotherapy is still the standard of care for treatment of small caliber red/purple/blue vessels. Certain lasers may be more effective for treatment of smallest caliber red vessels, which at times appear like bruising.
