Home/Patient information/Sclerotherapy
Patient information
A treatment for small varicose veins, thread veins and venous flares.
The procedure involves placing a tiny needle within the affected veins and injecting a chemical which destroys the cells lining the vein.
Following the procedure, compression is applied to the area of the injection and a compression stocking is applied over the treated leg. Following treatment you may return to all normal activities other than vigorous exercise.
These respond well to sclerotherapy. Following treatment you will usually need to wear a support stocking for up to two to three weeks, but after one week this can be taken off at night. The treated vein may still be a little lumpy after the period in a compression stocking, but this will settle over a few months.
There is often some pigmentation (brown staining) of the skin at the site of injection which, in Mr Crinnion’s experience, resolves over a period of a few months and does not, in the vast majority of patients, leave a significant mark on the skin. However, in some patients a small area of pigmentation may be permanent.
The number of treatment sessions needed to clear all the varicose veins depends on their extent, and this will be discussed at your consultation.
Discomfort and tenderness at the site of injection. This will resolve.
Has been reported, but is extremely unusual with the modern chemicals used to treat small varicose veins.
An extremely rare complication. The risk will be discussed with you.
These generally respond well to treatment, but sometimes repeated injections into a particular area of veins are needed to obtain an optimal cosmetic result. Treatment is extremely safe and Mr Crinnion has experienced no significant complications.
At the site of injection. Not usually a major problem and will settle over two to three months.
Very fine red veins can develop at the injection site and leave a blemish. This usually resolves over six to twelve months and very rarely leaves a persistent minor mark.
It is important to realise that treating thread veins and venous flares is a time-consuming process. If you have extensive thread veins you will not achieve an optimal cosmetic result unless you undergo several treatments. The vast majority of patients are very pleased with the treatment, but in some the eventual result is not as good as expected – in some patients the treated veins do not shrink as expected, and some veins are so small they are difficult to inject accurately.
You will attend on the morning of treatment at the hospital and you do not need to take any precautions. The small veins will be injected and your leg will then be bandaged, with a measured compression stocking placed over the top of the bandage.
You will be told when to remove the bandage for the first time (usually seven days) and how long to continue wearing the stockings. Typically the stocking and bandage are left in place for one week and you then continue to wear the stockings during the day for a further two weeks. For very large veins, a longer period of up to four to six weeks is recommended.
There are no special measures needed before this treatment. On arrival you will be measured for compression stockings and the patches of thread veins will then be injected.
Some light compression dressings and a bandage will be applied to your leg, with the compression stocking on top. Normally the bandage is removed after one to three days and you will be advised to wear the support stocking during the day for a further week. You can leave the clinic and resume all normal activities straight away, but should avoid vigorous exercise such as jogging for about one week.
Injecting veins, especially thread veins and venous flares, causes an inflammatory reaction within the skin. This is the cause of the fine red veins (telangiectasia) that occasionally occur following treatment. It is therefore probably unwise to expose the treated areas to the sun for about six weeks unless the area is covered with a sun block.
It should be very safe to fly two weeks after treatment for venous flares and thread veins, and four weeks after treatment for varicose veins. If you plan a flight soon after the procedure, please discuss any additional precautions with Mr Crinnion.
If you require any further information, please contact Mr Crinnion’s secretary or discuss any other questions on the day of your procedure.
On this page
Please contact Mr Crinnion’s secretary, Maxine Levene.
Tel: 0787 028 0264
Email: enquiries@jamescrinnion.co.uk
Related information
Mr Crinnion’s office is happy to help before and after your procedure.