Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a safe, proven, and effective non-surgical treatment for veins of all sizes (both spider veins and varicose veins) that can be performed in the office.
A tiny needle is used to introduce a sclerosing solution into the target vein in order to shut it down.
These agents/solutions do two things. First, it displaces the blood in the vein causing the vein to immediately fade or appear lighter in color. Second, the solution irritates the vein lining causing the vein walls to adhere together, preventing the vein from filling with blood again.
The blood is then redirected to healthier veins and generally circulation improves. Typically, a few weeks after treatment, the non-treated vein is absorbed by the body and disappears.
Aspects of sclerotherapy include:
- It is performed in the office during a routine office visit.
- No anesthesia is necessary.
- It is usually painless, however some patients may experience discomfort from the needle prick (like a mosquito bite) or a few seconds of mild burning from the solution.
- There is no pre-treatment preparation.
- Patients can resume normal activity after leaving the office
- There is no post-treatment scarring.
- Most patients require at least two sessions. The greater the number of veins present, the more sessions are required to achieve resolution. In most cases a series of treatment sessions will be required to effectively treat your veins.
What to Expect After Treatment
- With smaller veins, a small piece of gauze will be taped over each injected vein and should remain for 24 hours after treatment.
- If larger veins are treated, we may recommend leg elevation for a few minutes or a compression stocking for a short period of time after treatment.
- You may notice slight tenderness for a few days in the treated vein after treatment.
- Temporary bruising around the treated area may occur; the length of time that it takes for this to resolve depends on the size of the vein treated, with larger veins taking longer to disappear.
- Once a varicose vein is effectively treated, it will not come back. However, nothing can prevent new spider or varicose veins may from occurring. If varicose veins do reoccur, they may be treated six to 12 months later in the same manner that the original ones were treated. There is no limit to the number of treatments that can be done.
Asclera
What Is Asclera® (pronounced a skler ah)?
Asclera® (polidocanol) Injection is a prescription medicine that is used in a procedure called sclerotherapy and is administered by a healthcare provider to treat two types of veins:
- Uncomplicated spider veins (very small varicose veins ≤ 1 mm in diameter)
- Uncomplicated small varicose veins (1 to 3 mm in diameter) known as reticular veins
How Does Asclera® Work?
Asclera® is a sclerosing agent that is injected into the vein. It works by damaging the endothelium, the cells lining the inside of blood vessels. This causes blood platelets to attach to the lining of the vessels; eventually, cellular debris and platelets cause the blood vessel to clot. Over time, the clotted vein will be replaced with tissue.
Patient Satisfaction1- On average, 86% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their Asclera® treatment
- Patients were significantly more satisfied with Asclera® than with either sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) or placebo (p<0.0001)
1 At 12 and 26 weeks after last injection patients received the digital images of their treatment area taken at baseline and were asked to rate their satisfaction with their treatment using a verbal rating scale, where 1 = very unsatisfied, 2 = somewhat unsatisfied, 3 = slightly satisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied.
What should I avoid after receiving an Asclera® Injection?
For two to three days following the treatment, avoid (if you are uncertain, please ask your healthcare provider):
- Heavy exercise
- Sunbathing
- Long plane flights
- Hot bath or sauna
Are there any possible side effects to Asclera® treatments?
Yes, they may include:
- Severe allergic reactions have been reported following polidocanol use, including anaphylactic reactions, some of them fatal. Severe reactions are most frequent with use of larger volumes (> 3 mL). The dose of polidocanol should therefore be minimized. A doctor should be prepared to treat anaphylaxis appropriately.
- In rare cases, formation of small "burns" or ulcers form, usually due to leakage of Asclera® into the skin. They heal in time, but may leave a scar.
- Inadvertent perivascular injection of Asclera® can cause pain. If pain is severe, a local anesthetic (without adrenaline) may be injected.
You should tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, including:
- Prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal products
You should not be treated with Asclera® if you:
- Have a known allergy to polidocanol
- Have an acute vein or blood clotting (thromboembolic) disease
- Are pregnant or nursing
How long is each Asclera® session?
A typical sclerotherapy session lasts 15 to 45 minutes. One injection is usually administered per inch with multiple injections per session. Following treatment compression stockings or support hose should be worn continuously for 2-3 days and for 2-3 weeks during the day time.
