Sclerotherapy is a very effective treatment for reducing and eliminating varicose veins, but it depends on some factors, such as the practice of the angiologist, the effectiveness of the substance injected into the vein, the response of the person's body to the treatment and the size of the vessels.
This technique is ideal for treating small-caliber varicose veins, up to 2 mm, and spider veins, not being as effective in eliminating large varicose veins. However, even if the individual has only small varicose veins in the leg and has a few sessions of sclerotherapy, if he does not follow some medical guidelines, be sedentary and remain standing or sitting for a long time, other varicose veins may appear.
Sclerotherapy can be done with foam or glucose, with foam indicated for the treatment of large varicose veins. In addition it can be done by laser, but the results are not so satisfactory and you may need additional treatment with foam or glucose to eliminate varicose veins. When glucose sclerotherapy cannot eliminate large-caliber vessels, surgery is recommended, especially if the saphenous vein, which is the main vein in the leg and thigh, is involved. Find out how glucose sclerotherapy and foam sclerotherapy are performed.
When to do sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy can be done for aesthetic purposes, but also when it can represent a risk for women. In very dilated veins, blood flow slows down, which can lead to the formation of clots and, subsequently, a thrombosis condition may be established. See how to identify thrombosis and what to do to avoid it.
Sclerotherapy sessions last an average of 30 minutes and should be done once a week. The number of sessions depends on the amount of vases to be eliminated and the method used. Generally, laser sclerotherapy requires fewer sessions to notice the result. Learn how laser sclerotherapy works.
How to prevent varicose veins from coming back
It is important after sclerotherapy to take some precautions to prevent varicose veins from reappearing, such as:
- Avoid wearing high heels every day, as it may compromise circulation; Avoid overweight; Perform physical activities with professional monitoring, as depending on exercise there may be greater tension in the vessels; Wear elastic compression stockings, especially after glucose sclerotherapy; Sit or lie down with your legs up; Avoid sitting all day long; Quit smoking; Seek medical advice before using birth control pills.
Other precautions that must be taken after sclerotherapy are the use of moisturizers, sunscreen, avoid hair removal and exposure of the treated region to the sun so that there are no spots.
