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Foam Sclerotherapy Treatment

Published on January 27, 2017

Sclerotherapy is a procedure that is designed to improve the appearance of varicose veins. The surgeon will inject your veins with sclerosant, a solution that damages the internal lining of the veins and causes the blood within to clot up. Over time, the vein will get destroyed on its own and disappear. The sclerosant is composed of sodium tetradecyl sulphate and it comes in different concentrations.

How is Foam Sclerotherapy Different from the Conventional Variant?

Foam sclerotherapy is a more effective version of conventional sclerotherapy. During the procedure, the solution is mixed with a small volume of air to generate foam. This method makes it possible to treat the veins that lie deeper and can’t be treated using conventional sclerotherapy.

The surgeon will use a portable ultrasound to achieve greater precision. The foam causes an intense convulsion of the vein, which allows for a greater volume to be injected.

Foam sclerotherapy is better than the conventional variant as it offers a more effective alternative to surgery without any of the risks associated with the use of a general anesthetic. Most of the varicose veins can be treated with this method.

The procedure is advantageous to people who have had operations for their varicose veins in the pass. On the other hand, if you have blood clotting problems, the surgeon might recommend some other alternative.

What Does the Procedure Entail?

The surgeon will use ultrasound scanning to mark the vein that needs to be treated. He will then insert a needle into the lower thigh or mid calf. The needle will then be flushed with a thinning agent that contains heparin. Then a couple of smaller needles will be injected into the vein and the flushing procedure will be repeated.

Your surgeon will ask you to flex your ankle to increase the blood flow to the deep veins. You might experience a stinging sensation when the foam is injected, but for the most part, the procedure is painless.

The surgeon will monitor the passage of foam into your veins with the help of the ultrasound. Once the foam is injected all the way through, your surgeon will remove the needles and place a bandage around your leg to compress the veins. You will also be given a compression stocking that comes with a waist and thigh attachment.

Recovery

You should keep the stocking and bandage on for at least five days. After this, you can remove the bandage. You will, however, need to wear the stocking for another seven days. During this period, you are allowed to remove the stocking to shower. You can also take it off at night when you go to sleep. If the stocking makes you feel more comfortable, you can wear it for longer period of time.

You should bring the stocking with you to the follow-up visit with the doctor as you might have to reuse it if you need further injections. If you experience excessive discomfort during recovery, then contact your surgeon immediately. You should be able to resume all normal activities in two weeks.

Contact Our Office

Contact our office to learn more about foam sclerotherapy treatments and how they can benefit you. You can speak to Dr. Raffi Dishakjian, an excellent vein specialist, to ask any questions you may have. With his skills and experience, he can help you find relief from your symptoms.