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ULTRASOUND-GUIDED SCLEROTHERAPY

An ultrasound machine is an amazing bit of technology that enables one to see veins that are hidden under the surface of the skin. Often, these hidden veins are the "culprits" that are causing problems further down the leg. The valves in these veins may be damaged, allowing blood to flow backwards into the calves. Eventually this will result in bulging of the calf veins, and uncomfortable and unattractive varicose veins.

With the aid of the ultrasound machine, the injections can be guided quickly and accurately to find the veins that need to be injected.

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a technique that involves the injection of solution into varicose veins. This causes the varicose veins to shrivel and gradually disappear.

The solution that I use has been successfully used for vein injections for over 50 years, and has been found to be very safe. After it is injected into the varicose vein, the solution (a modified detergent) does not harm other parts of the body. To minimize discomfort, very small "baby" needles are used to inject the solution into the veins.

Are the injections very painful?

Most people find the injections only mildly uncomfortable. No anesthesia is required. The comfort level is optimized in my office by using very tiny needles, and use of smaller concentrations of solution for smaller veins. Some practitioners use saline, but I have found this to be more uncomfortable for the patient, and not quite as effective.

How long do the veins take to disappear?

Small spider veins require about 2 months to completely fade, whereas larger varicose veins may require 3 to 4 months to disappear. They may be hard and tender for a few weeks following treatment. Brown staining of the skin is sometimes seen where the veins were located, but this usually fades within a few months.

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