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Sclerotherapy 2007-01-08 Skin Care Dear Dr Proskiw: I have developed ugly varicose veins in my legs. They make me look old and make me feel self conscious when I wear shorts or a swim suit. My mother had the same problem years ago and had to have the veins surgically removed from her legs. Is there a newer procedure that does not require surgery? Answer: First and foremost you will require a full venous examination with duplex ultrasound to find the source of the problem veins. Traditionally the preferred treatment for varicose veins involved the surgical removal of the vein in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia. The next major development for the treatment of varicose veins was a procedure which is called sclerotherapy . Sclerotherapy is the injection of a solution into the varicose or smaller spider veins, causing them to close off and subsequently disappear. In the late 1980s an advanced method of sclerotherapy was developed. It used high tech ultrasound machines to visualize diseased veins deep under the surface of the skin. This enabled doctors, trained in ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS), to safely and effectively treat the offending vein at the source. What are the benefits of ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy as compared to conventional Sclerotherapy? Answer: Only ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy gets to the source of diseased veins deep under the surface of the skin. Results from sclerotherapy treatment performed via ultrasound guidance, tend to be more accurate. Large varicose veins and so-called feeder veins often fade with fewer treatments and cosmetically better results are attained than when treated with conventional sclerotherapy or laser alone. Because ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy gets to the source of the disease, the results of treatment tend to be more permanent and less expensive because fewer treatment sessions are necessary to get the job done. Once the veins requiring treatment are located what does the treatment involve? Answer: A sclerosing agent is injected directly into the veins using a fine needle. The solution is a liquid foam, which contacts the inside of the vein for a longer period of time. The liquid foam causes the walls of the vein to collapse thus closing it off and preventing any blood flow. Over a period of weeks the veins will be absorbed by the body. What happens after treatment? Answer: Following your treatment you will need to wear a surgical compression stocking from between three days to 2 weeks which promotes closure of the veins. It is important to stay active and walking for at least 30 minutes every day while wearing the compression stockings. Can this procedure be performed by any doctor? Answer: Recent international consensus groups and the medical literature agree the ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy should be performed only by highly experienced specialists. I have undergone intensive training with the founding experts of this medical technique and have been performing these procedures for many years. Recommended Links: http://www.aestheticsolutions.ca/procedures/leg-veins.html#sclero

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