Sclerotherapy is not a particularly painful treatment - the needles used are tiny and the injections are very superficial.
Commonly used sclerosants (the drug used) are not painful on injection. You may experience some prickling and itching after treatment for a few hours, but these symptoms can be relieved with anti-histamines which can be purchased over the counter in supermarkets and pharmacies.
Which patients are suitable?
This treatment is not suitable for pregnant or nursing women, or patients with varicose veins. Your practitioner will take a thorough medical history to ensure you are suitable for treatment.
What is the aftercare for sclerotherapy?
Your veins will look worse before they get better. You may have bruising, red marks and you may have some brown pigmentation (looks like fading bruising) which, in rare cases, can take up to 18 months to fade.
Following the aftercare advice helps speed up the healing process and minimizes the risk of side effects:
• Take a 10 minute walk immediately after treatment
• Wear your support hosiery day and night for 72 hours; at the end of the 72 hours you may take the stocking off and have a short cool shower or bath. Thereafter, wear your support stocking during the day for 7 days; you may take it off at night. After the 7 days, wear your hosiery as often as you can, for as long as you can.
• Avoid extremes of temperature for 14 days i.e. very hot baths, saunas, sun beds.
• Avoid sun exposure for 4 weeks – pigmentation may take longer to fade.
• Avoid high impact exercise for 2 weeks.
• Avoid waxing of the legs for 4 weeks.
• Elevate your legs as much as possible for the first 2 weeks- when you are seated.
• If you are planning air travel discuss with your practitioner who will advise.
• Consider wearing support hosiery long term to minimize thread vein recurrence.
• Do not be alarmed that the thread veins look worse, this is normal.
• Rarely, patients who have had sclerotherapy may suffer symptoms of serious allergic reaction and should seek urgent medical assistance. If you suffer any of the following symptoms, please dial emergency services; itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help immediately if you have any breathing problems.
• Rarely, patients who have had sclerotherapy may suffer symptoms of DVT and if so, should seek immediate medical advice. Symptoms include pain, heat and swelling of the calf.
What is the difference between varicose veins and thread veins?
Varicose veins are large in diameter and raised. These types of veins are severely swollen blood vessels that twist and turn down the legs. They usually develop in the legs, are prominent and protrude under the skin. Varicose veins can clearly be seen through the skin. Spider veins and thread veins are small, thin, red, purple and blue vessels. Like varicose veins they also twist and turn down the legs. Due to their colour, in some instances spider veins can be seen through the skin as well. At Dr Leah Clinics we specialise in thread vein removal, and only consider varicose vein treatment if they are under 4mm in diameter.
How many treatments will I need?
For successful treatment of spider veins in legs/thread veins in legs the results achieved after one treatment vary considerably from one client to the next. You should budget for up to 4 treatments, 4 – 16 weeks apart.
How long will the results last?
Successfully treated thread veins / spider veins are gone for good. However, there is no cure for the underlying vein condition, and sclerotherapy cannot prevent new leg veins appearing in the future.
Is sclerotherapy suitable for everyone?
Thread vein removal is not suitable for pregnant / breastfeeding women or patients with varicose veins. Your practitioner will take a thorough medical history to ensure that you are suitable for treatment.
What will happen after my treatment?
After Thread vein removal your veins will look worse before they get better. You may have bruises, red marks, and/or brown pigmentation (which looks like fading bruising). In rare cases, these can take up to 18 months to fade.
Follow our aftercare advice to help speed up the healing process and minimise the risk of side effects:
• Take a 10-minute walk immediately after treatment.
• Wear your support hosiery day and night for 72 hours; at the end of the 72 hours, you may take the stocking off and have a short cool shower or bath. Thereafter, wear your support stocking during the day for 7 days; you may take them off at night. After the 7 days, wear your hosiery as often as you can, for as long as you can.
• Avoid extreme temperatures (i.e. very hot baths, saunas, sun beds) for 14 days.
• Avoid sun exposure for 4 weeks – pigmentation may take longer to fade.
• Avoid high-impact exercise for 2 weeks.
• Avoid waxing of the legs for 4 weeks.
• When seated, elevate your legs as much as possible for the first 2 weeks.
• If you are planning air travel, discuss this with your practitioner who will advise.
• Consider wearing support hosiery long-term to minimise thread vein recurrence.
• Do not be alarmed if the thread veins look worse than before. This is normal.
• In rare cases, patients who have had sclerotherapy may suffer symptoms of serious allergic reaction and should seek urgent medical assistance. If you suffer any of the following symptoms, please dial emergency services: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help immediately if you have any breathing problems.
• In rare cases, patients who have had sclerotherapy may suffer symptoms of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Symptoms include pain, heat and swelling of the calf. Seek immediate medical advice if you notice any of these symptoms.
