Sclerotherapy Treatment for Venous Insufficiency and Varicose Veins
Here at USA Vein Clinics, we believe it’s important to have the right tool for the right job. This advice also counts for medical treatment. Vein conditions such as venous insufficiency and varicose veins affect millions of people every year, but treatment options are abundant. As such, one of the strongest and commonly used procedures is sclerotherapy. Today’s article looks at sclerotherapy in close detail. What is sclerotherapy? How does it work? And why is sclerotherapy the medical community’s go-to procedure for treating venous insufficiency and varicose veins? Join us as we look hold our magnifying glass over venous insufficiency treatment and sclerotherapy for varicose veins. What is Sclerotherapy and How Does It Work? Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to treat common vein problems. The procedure involves injecting a chemical called a sclerosant into the affected vein area. The chemical destroys the vein, scarring the lining, and causing it to collapse. Your body will naturally redivert its blood supply via other veins when your doctor performs sclerotherapy. Equally, the collapsed vein eventually dissolves by itself, ready for the body to reabsorb it. Conditions like varicose veins affect the ankles and calves, so you should keep your affected leg elevated during treatment. Similarly, during treatment, your physician will apply pressure to the affected veins to prevent blood returning when standing up. For several days, sometimes weeks, following the procedure, compression stockings are used to maintain pressure on the leg. In our experience, sclerotherapy is a highly useful and relatively straightforward method to solving vein problems. As such, this has made it a staple of varicose veins and venous insufficiency treatment. Sclerotherapy as Venous Insufficiency Treatment Venous insufficiency is a vein condition wherein the amount of blood flowing through the veins becomes inadequate for the body’s needs. The rate at which blood moves through the veins also contributes to venous insufficiency, as it starts to pool in your legs and lower extremities. Venous insufficiency is often a product of multiple different vein disorders, like varicose veins or blood clots from deep vein thrombosis. Factors like weight, pregnancy, smoking, previous leg injuries, and a history of phlebitis can all increase your chances of venous insufficiency. Furthermore, while there are several treatment options for venous insufficiency,
sclerotherapy is one of the most effective. Once affected veins are injected with a chemical sclerosant to destroy them, your body will redivert blood to healthy veins. Healing takes time, and it may be necessary to avoid direct sun exposure and strenuous exercise for several weeks post-treatment. Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins Varicose veins, another common vein disorder, are experienced by millions of people each year. Those suffering from distended and unsightly veins in the ankles and lower leg are likely to suffer from varicose veins. A condition most commonly found in women, varicose veins are a product of many factors, including diet, health, and occupation. Jobs that involve extended periods of standing, such as teachers, doctors, nurses, hospitality staff, are more likely to develop varicose veins. Moreover, this is due to the extra pressure placed on the lower legs. As such, sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure to treat varicose veins. A favorite of doctors, sclerotherapy eliminates problem veins completely, allowing blood to flow freely and new veins to take over. Sclerotherapy for varicose veins is usually combined with compression stockings to maintain pressure on the treated vein and aid healing.