FFSclerotherapy - Varicose vein treatment
Table of contents:
What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is the preferred treatment for small varicose veins. In addition to the aesthetic disadvantages, the main complaints with varicose veins are:
- A feeling of tension in the legs
- Heavy and tired legs
- Pain
- A tingling sensation
- Regular nocturnal leg cramps
- Itching
- Fluid accumulation
Are you prone to developing varicose veins? Then avoid exposure to prolonged heat and prolonged standing up (e.g. sauna, extended tanning or a sunbed).
Advantages
- Suitable for all types of varicose veins
- Does not cause any work incompetence
- Immediately after the treatment you can resume normal activities
- Because a very fine injection needle is used, anaesthesia is not necessary and you will hardly experience any pain during the treatment
Disadvantages and possible discomfort
- Slight burning sensation after treatment
- Discoloration of the skin (this usually disappears spontaneously within a year)
- Local pain or discomfort and a harder, thickened zone over the treated blood vessel
- Superficial phlebitis: painful, red and warm zone on and around the site of treatment
Procedure
- First, a detailed discussion with the doctor takes place, adressing what the complaints are and what techniques we use
- Sclerotherapy is performed without anaesthesia during the consultation
- After the affected area has been cleaned and sterilised, a fluid is injected into the varicose vein
- This fluid irritates the vein wall. After treatment, a pressure bandage is applied and compression stockings have to ben worn. This causes the vein to be compressed and makes the vein contract and shrivel up. Afterwards, the vein will be absorbed by your body
- The injection can be repeated a number of times if necessary
Pre and aftercare
- Drink a lot the day before treatment
- You are allowed to consume liquids and food
- Keep your legs warm and walk around the day of the operation. This makes the vein bigger and easier to reach
- Be sure to bring compression stockings
- You should wear compression stockings during the first 24 hours after the treatment
- After that, we advise you to wear the compression stockings only during the day for the next week after the treatment (in winter, it is nice and warm)
- Compression stockings are availble at our clinic at € 20 a pair. If you don’t have any, you can purchase them at our clinic. No treatment will be carried out if a patient does not wear compression stockings immediately afterwards
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