SCLEROTHERAPY TREATMENT
WHAT IS SCLEROTHERAPY?
TREATMENT PROCEDURE
post care instructions
TREATMENT OF SPIDER VEINS ON THE LEGS: SCLEROTHERAPY
At Noviskin, we concentrate on the treatment of telangiectasia and small reticular veins (veins smaller than 3mm in diameter). We mainly use Sclerotherapy, which is the treatment of choice for smaller asymptomatic veins. A sclerosing agent, called polidocanol is injected in small quantities into each vein. A vascular surgeon will treat the larger varicose veins first, thereafter, will we continue with the treatment of the smaller spider veins.
This is a cosmetic procedure and will not be covered by your medical aid.
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SCLEROTHERAPY TREATMENT PROCEDURE
Sclerotherapy is an art, not science, and results are unpredictable and vary from person to person. There is no cure for spider veins. The majority of patients who undergo Sclerotherapy will be cleared of their superficial veins or at least see a good improvement. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that Sclerotherapy will be effective in every case.
The number of treatments needed to clear or improve the spider veins differs from patient to patient depending on the extent of the veins present. The average amount of treatments is 3 to 4 at 4 weekly intervals. One leg is treated during a ½hour treatment session with a maximal amount of 10ml of sclerosing solution injected at one sitting.
POST & PRE CARE INSTRUCTIONS
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Before your treatment:
- No specific preparation is necessary.
- Come to your appointment with a pair of shorts (or a skirt) for easy access to veins and no creams applied to the legs.
- Please arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time of treatment to complete the necessary forms and preparations.
During the treatment:
- A sclerosing agent is injected through a very fine needle directly into the vein.
- You may experience mild discomfort and cramping for one to two minutes, especially when larger veins are injected.
- A compression bandage is applied which should be kept on for 2 days.
- The procedure itself takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
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There are no real alternative treatment options that successfully treat spider veins in the legs. Some possible alternative treatments can include:
-
- Vbeam laser
- Radiofrequency Vein Ablation
- Ligation (Vein stripping)
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CONTRAINDICATIONS
It is advised that you do not undergo Sclerotherapy for spider veins in your legs should you be affected by any of these contra-indications:
- A history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT – clots in the veins).
- Pregnancy – especially 1st and 2nd trimesters.
- Patients that are not mobile due to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or paralysis.
- Previous hypersensitivity / allergic reaction(s) to the sclerosing agent(s).
- Patients on anticoagulation therapy such as Warfarin, Xeralto, Ecotrin, Disprin, etc.
- Patients with severe systemic life-threatening diseases.
- Recurrent bacterial infections of the skin (e.g. cellulitis).
- Patients that have a fear of needles, who have a very low pain threshold or who are not compliant with the treatment or aftercare treatment schedule.
- Acute fever with flu-like symptoms.
RISKS / SIDE EFFECTS
Please find below a list of common side effects and risks, for a more comprehensive list and explanation, please refer to the consent form and discuss this with your Noviskin Physician.
The first 9 listed here are the most common side effects:
- Bruising at the site of injection may remain for a month.
- Post-treatment hyper-pigmentation (which is darkening of the skin) usually fades over a 3 to 4-month period.
- Temporary swelling of the area.
- Residual veins (veins that do not respond to initial treatment) will have to undergo further treatment.
- Spider vein matting – in a few cases the concentration of spider veins may increase, however, they appear much finer after treatment. This usually clears up after 2 to 3 months with further treatment or laser treatment.
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- Pain – there may be initial pain at the injection site and later tenderness to touch may occur, but there should be no constant pain. If the pain remains present, contact Noviskin immediately on 012 460 4646/50.
- An allergic reaction to the tape used to compress the areas after treatment may occur as redness, itchiness or blistering.
- Superficial clotting of veins may occur 10 days after treatment. This occurs very seldom; but if it does, please contact Noviskin immediately on 012 460 4646/50.
- Vein recurrence – when injecting some veins, some new ones may develop.
Seldom occurring side effects include:
- A vaso-vagal attack-fainting during the treatment.
- Sensitivity reactions to the sclerosing agent.
- A small ulcer may form at the injection site but occurs rarely.
- Extremely rare: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism.
CONTACT US
AESTHETIC QUERIES:
COSMETICS1@NOVISKIN.CO.ZA
MEDICAL QUERIES:
INFO1@NOVISKIN.CO.ZA
NIEUW MUCKLENEUK, PRETORIA