What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for varicose and spider veins. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that involves injecting a dilute soap solution into a target vein. The sclerosing agent (soap) irritates the inside of the vein and when the vein is compressed after treatment (with cotton wadding and compression stockings) the vein sticks to itself like Velcro and collapses. Blood is thereby shunted away from the varicose and spider veins and travels via deeper vein pathways which is more efficient to the body. The injectable solution that we use at ArtMed is called Tromboject® which contains sodium tetradecyl sulfate.
Sclerotherapy is a very effective way to treat unwanted veins and most patients can expect to see a 50 to 80 percent improvement with a series of 4-8 treatments, depending on the severity of the condition. Compression stockings are a necessary and essential part of sclerotherapy to ensure treatment efficacy. At ArtMed we conduct a thorough consultation and examination to determine if you are a good candidate for sclerotherapy. If you have contraindications to treatment or have significant venous reflux and large protruding veins we will recommend attending Dr. Jehrome’s vascular clinic in KW.
Compression Wear
At ArtMed, we carry both Sigvaris and Achi brand compression wear in sport and medical grades. Compression wear comes in many colours and styles so it’s easy to find something to suits your needs. Wearing compression also improves venous return to the heart so you’ll feel better when you wear it. Wearing compression when travelling improves circulation, reduces risk of blood clots and helps reduce jet lag. Learn more about compression stockings. See here for more details.
Sclerotherapy FAQ: sclero-faq
