Sclerotherapy is a procedure that effectively treats spider veins and varicose veins. For smaller varicose veins cases, this is often considered as a treatment of choice. This therapy includes injecting a solution directly into the vein which causes the vein to scar and reroutes the blood towards the healthier veins. The collapsed vein gets reabsorbed and gradually it fades away.
Once sclerotherapy is done, the veins that are treated with the injection fade within a few weeks, though it might take a month to get the actual results. There are, in fact, some cases, where more than one sclerotherapy treatment might be needed.
Risks and side-effects of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy leads to very few serious side effects. Here are a few temporary side effects that you may keep in mind:
- Raised red skin areas
- Bruising
- Darkened skin or fine lines or spots
- Small sores on the skin
- Several tiny red blood vessels
Side effects that need to be treated
Few other less common complications that may need treatment are:
Inflammation: Sometimes there are mild cases of swelling, or discomfort near the site of injection. Take pain relievers like ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce inflammation.
Air bubbles: There are instances where small bubbles may be seen in your bloodstream and these may lead to headaches, visual disturbances, nausea, or fainting.
Blood clot: A lump of a blood clot may form in the vein that might need to be drained. A blood clot can travel to a vein deeper within your leg and lead to thrombosis.
Does your insurance cover sclerotherapy cost?
Now that you have to opt for sclerotherapy treatments Boise, ID, you must be wondering about the costs associated. Insurance coverage for sclerotherapy is based on whether or not the insurance company considers this as a necessary process.
If your spider vein is nothing but a cosmetic issue, the insurance companies will not cover this process. There are insurers who may ask their clients to try out other processes like cryotherapy for freezing damaged veins.
In what way are sclerotherapy injections administered?
There are two FDA-approved sclerosants – polidocanol and sodium tetradecyl sulfate. If the varicose veins are small enough, hypertonic saline is used but depending on the vein’s size, the sclerosant can at times be injected as foam. A fine needle of perfect capacity is inserted within the blood vessel and the solution is injected.
Is there any post-sclerotherapy care that is required?
Patients are recommended to wear compression dressings for 1-3 weeks after the treatment gets done. You may be asked to appear for a follow-up visit within 2 weeks to allow the blood clots to evacuate into larger veins. This improves the appearance of your veins.
For patients suffering from venous issues, treatments like sclerotherapy can be beneficial by enhancing blood flow and reducing chronic swelling. For people with cosmetic concerns, the appearance can also be improved with sclerotherapy. Just make sure you get in touch with an expert vein specialist who has experience in such treatments.
