What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a procedure during which a physician uses a syringe with a very fine needle to inject a small amount of solution (a sclerosing agent) directly into the vein. After injection, a pressure bandage is applied to the site to compress the vein.

Which veins can be injected?
Spider veins and moderately sized varicose veins can be injected with the sclerosing agent.

Is the injection procedure painful?
It's usually painless because the solution injected isn’t very concentrated. Still, you may feel a slight stinging or burning sensation as it’s injected.

What are the potential complications of the procedure?
Though rare, serious complications of sclerotherapy include:

• Allergy from the sclerosing agent. This doesn’t occur with the use of hypertonic saline.
• Ulceration. This will eventually heal, leaving a small scar, or may be removed surgically.
• Deep vein thrombosis. The risk is very low, but it occasionally follows sclerotherapy of larger varicose veins. Deep vein thrombosis is more likely in patients predisposed to blood clotting through inherited thrombophilia. Lack of exercise, air travel, recent surgery and other factors increase the possibility of this condition.

The following complications occur more frequently:

• Staining or brown pigmentation at the site treated or along the vein path. This occurs in about 30% of patients. In most cases, this goes away naturally but may take several months.
• Clots within the treated veins. These aren’t dangerous but can feel quite tender in larger veins. Clots can be removed using a needle, but left alone they’ll eventually be absorbed by the body.
• Temporary bruising at the injection sites. This is quite common but goes away within a week or so.

Will I have any bandages or elastic wraps after injection?
Foam tape bandages and a temporary pressure dressing are usually applied for a few days at the physician's discretion. For larger treated veins, pressure bandages may be required for several days. Support hose should be worn to help prevent future vein problems.

Will my insurance cover sclerotherapy?
Most insurance companies don’t pay for sclerotherapy if it’s done for cosmetic reasons. Some insurance companies do pay for treatment if you feel pain or discomfort that impedes normal daily activity. Each insurance company is different. We recommend that you check with your insurance agent to determine coverage.