Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş
Cardiovascular Surgery
Sclerotherapy for Varicose Vein Treatment
Sclerotherapy, or colloquially known as 'needle therapy,' is an aesthetic treatment method applied especially for thin capillary varicose veins. The treatment mainly aims to aesthetically restore the poor image that is caused by varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy is the process of injecting a drug with vascular closure into a vein with the help of an injector with a thin needle tip. Thus, the thin vein treated is closed, and the skin absorbs and destroys it with time. Varicose veins in the leg become less visible or invisible. The most suitable veins for sclerotherapy treatment are the small ones close to the skin and the capillary varicose veins.
What to Do Before the Sclerotherapy for Varicose Vein Treatment?
Before sclerotherapy, the patient is examined by a specialist physician in Cardiovascular Surgery. The patient discusses his/her complaints and medical history mutually. The patient is examined. Finally, the leg vein ultrasonography "color Doppler" examination is performed. Sclerotherapy can be planned if it is found out in the ultrasonographic examination that there is no significant venous insufficiency to be treated. Sclerotherapy is a treatment that seems simple from the outside but must be applied by a doctor because an improper application can lead to side effects that can be as serious as dark scars and skin scarring.
In the sclerotherapy process, firstly, the patient receives detailed information about the treatment in a mutual conversation. The patient gets answers to his/her questions about the treatment process. The patient is informed on the estimated number of sessions the treatment will take, the cost, and the expected recovery rate. The patient’s written and signed sclerotherapy consent form is received. Besides, the patient’s written consent and signature are taken for a medical photo shooting permission. The patient leg’s standard medical photographs are taken. The standard front, back, right side, and left side photographs are taken without revealing the patient’s identity. Also, the photos specifically focusing on the problematic regions are taken. These photos are for medical documentation purposes only, and they are stored in the patient archive. These photos help to compare before and after treatment and to demonstrate the improvement in the image.
How to Perform Sclerotherapy Treatment for Varicose Veins?
The varicose vein treatment is done in two ways through sclerotherapy. The varicose vein treatment is applied in two ways through sclerotherapy. The first to do is to draw the medication into the injector and deliver it into the varicose veins in liquid form. This method is applied particularly in thin and red-purple capillary varicose veins. In the second method, the drug is mixed with a certain amount of air to create foam, which is then delivered into the vein. The foam method is used particularly for medium-sized blue-green varicose veins. In both applications, a suitable needle is inserted into the varicose vein, and the required dose and amount of drug are administered. You do not need anesthesia during the sclerotherapy procedure. Nevertheless, the cream that will reduce your sense of ache and pain can be applied to the regions to be treated.
Sclerotherapy treatment for varicose veins is performed in sessions. Each session is performed in an outpatient clinic setting and takes approximately 45-60 minutes. In the course of deciding on how long to wait for the next session, the vascular structure and varicose density of the patient's treated regions are taken into consideration. It is advisable not to shave the legs in the morning of the application day, but you can take a warm shower. However, do not apply moisturizing cream on your legs. Bring your shorts and compression stockings with you before the treatment. When sclerotherapy treatment is initiated, the drug must be prepared in the appropriate concentration according to the vein thickness, and it should be delivered into the vein with a suitable needle tip and at the proper pressure. When the drug is delivered intravenously, a feeling of redness and a slight burning sensation occur in that region. However, since the application is performed with considerably fine needle tips, the patient feels a slight degree of pain, which is likely to be comparable to a mosquito bite.
Period After Sclerotherapy for Varicose Vein Treatment
You can stand up and walk right after the sclerotherapy session. Walking and moving your legs is critical to avoid the formation of clots in your deep veins. You should wear compression stockings for about two weeks after sclerotherapy. Wearing compression stockings is an important factor that increases the success of sclerotherapy treatment. Many patients can return to their daily routine activities on the same day. Besides, it is recommended that you have a relative with you to drive you back home after the procedure.
After sclerotherapy, it is recommended not to expose the treated regions to direct sunlight for at least two weeks, and ideally for four weeks, because sunlight can cause dark scars through the melanin skin pigment. Due to the disturbance caused by the compression stockings in hot weather and the mentioned sunlight effect, it is not very suitable to perform sclerotherapy in summer. If you can protect your leg which received sclerotherapy from sunlight with long pants or skirts, sclerotherapy can be applied in summer. But of course, it will not be appropriate to have sclerotherapy at a time when you are going on a sea vacation.
Intensive aerobic exercises, contact sports, or weight-lifting are inadvisable for about one week after sclerotherapy. It is advisable to walk for about 30 minutes at a moderate pace daily. Also, it is advisable not to use the hot bathtub and sauna, or bath in four to five days following the procedure.
After the sclerotherapy treatment of varicose veins, achieving considerable improvement in the poor appearance of the legs takes approximately four to six months. A change like fading is observed in thin capillary varicose veins in three to six weeks. Medium-sized, larger varicose veins significantly decrease within three to four months. As a result, almost perfect results can be achieved when applied on an enduring patient by a doctor experienced in the sclerotherapy treatment for varicose veins, who performs the correct technique. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş is a highly experienced doctor in the sclerotherapy treatment for varicose veins. Also, he intensely deals with the efficient and aesthetic treatment of varicose veins in his daily professional practices. If you have varicose veins that require aesthetic treatment, you can get examined by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş and get his opinion on the treatment process.
Sclerotherapy Treatment Prices in Izmir, Turkey
The insurance coverage for sclerotherapy varies. If your varicose veins are causing medical problems such as pain or chronic swelling, your insurance may offer a refund. If you receive sclerotherapy only for cosmetic purposes, your insurance company will most probably not provide coverage. You can discuss your concerns with Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş. If you have questions, you can get information from your doctor about the nature of your treatment, your medical needs, and also the prices for sclerotherapy treatment in Izmir.
