Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins

Varicose veins usually appear as unsightly, twisting, purple ropes on your legs. While they aren’t always painful, they usually cause embarrassment. But you no longer have to guess how to get rid of your varicose veins. There’s a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that destroys these veins from within. Dr. George Bolotin of the Astra Vein Treatment Center in Brooklyn and Bronx specializes in treating varicose and spider veins. Call for an initial consultation, so Dr. Bolotin can examine your problem veins. It’s the first step to determine if sclerotherapy for varicose veins is right for you.

What Is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat spider veins and small varicose veins. Neither type of vein condition represents a medical emergency, but both can cause discomfort and a dip in your self-esteem. Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure to remove problem varicose veins without surgery, although the procedure for sclerotherapy for spider veins is similar.

During the procedure, a top Interventional Radiologist who specializes in vascular conditions in Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY, such as Dr. George Bolotin, uses a tiny needle to inject a solution into your varicose veins. The solution causes the veins to collapse in on themselves. Then your body absorbs the vein tissue, causing them to disappear.

Considered very safe, this procedure has been in use since the 1930s. Dr. Bolotin, who works out of the Astra Vein Treatment Center in Brooklyn and Bronx, knows how to get rid of varicose veins. He first visually assesses your veins and determines if sclerotherapy is the right treatment for you. Today, there are three kinds of sclerotherapy in use, including:

• Traditional injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins
• Foam sclerotherapy
• Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy

Why Do I Need Sclerotherapy?

Varicose veins are often twisted and rope-like in appearance. They’re usually blue or purple and appear most often on your legs. These veins are highly visible, and the longer they go untreated, the more prominent they become. If you have varicose veins, you probably take pains to cover them up in public.

Sclerotherapy clears up varicose veins that bulge and push out against your skin. While the procedure is considered primarily a cosmetic procedure, it sometimes is performed because the varicose veins cause symptoms from which you want relief, such as:

• Aching legs, especially after being on your feet for extended periods
• Swelling in your legs
• A burning sensation in your legs
• Cramps in your legs at night

How Do I Prepare for Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins?

As with any medical procedure, including surgery, you need to meet with your doctor for a consultation beforehand. In the case of sclerotherapy, your vascular specialist completes a medical history, looking for causes or consequences of your varicose veins. Dr. Bolotin also conducts a physical exam. In addition, he:

• Asks if you’ve had varicose vein treatments prior to this
• Takes an inventory of all medications you’re currently taking, including any over-the-counter medications
• Notes any allergies you may have
• Makes sure the list of your diagnoses and illnesses is current

Afterward, you’re given directions to prepare for the procedure. You should not use any lotion or shave your legs 24 hours before the sclerotherapy procedure. Otherwise, there’s nothing special to do to prepare.

What Are the Steps in a Vein Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a straightforward, outpatient procedure. It usually takes about 45 minutes, depending on the number of varicose veins to be treated. Dr. Bolotin performs the sclerotherapy for varicose veins right in his office. You don’t require anesthesia, only a topical numbing agent. The procedure follows a series of steps that include:

• Your doctor asks you to lay down and elevate your feet and legs to make the area with the veins accessible.
• The site of the injection is prepped with antiseptic. The injection itself is painless.
• Your vein doctor uses a very thin needle to inject a substance directly into the selected veins.
• You may feel some burning or cramping when the injection occurs, but it should fade quickly.
• Your doctor may massage or compress the area immediately after removing the needle to facilitate the solution spreading through the vein.

After a brief waiting period, you’re encouraged to stand to walk around. The more you walk over the next few days, the better the healing process, as you’re promoting new circulation flow. Since sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure, you walk out of the office afterward.

What Can I Expect When Recovering from Sclerotherapy?

You experience hardly any recovery time from sclerotherapy for varicose veins. As the treated veins collapse, your body reroutes blood to healthy veins. Your varicose veins may take three to six months to completely disappear. After the procedure, Dr. Bolotin directs you to:

• Wear compression stockings for a period of time to avoid poor circulation.
• Walk often to keep the blood circulating, which reduces the chance of blood clots.
• Keep out of the sun until the injection sites heal. Otherwise, there’s a danger of dark spots forming around them.
• Avoid high-impact exercise for about two weeks to allow the veins to heal.
• Schedule a follow-up visit in about a month to check on your progress.

Contact Dr. George Bolotin in Brooklyn and Bronx to schedule your first appointment. Get a firm diagnosis, effective treatment and advice on how to prevent varicose veins in the future.