Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for spider veins. It is an in-office medical procedure used to treat varicose and spider veins. The procedure of using a sclerosing solution to eliminate spider veins has its origin in 1920s. The solution (hypertonic saline (salt solution) or other agents such as Sotradecol (sodium tetradecyl sulfate)) is injected directly into the damaged spider or varicose vein. Larger veins may be treated with higher concentrations of the sclerosing agent. The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel, which causes the veins to collapse, turn white and then disappear.
| A few sessions are required to improve the cosmetic appearance and associated symptoms as well. Sclerotherapy procedure normally takes 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the number and length of the veins. During sclerotherapy a patient can be fully awake due to the low level of discomfort associated with this technique. Duplex ultrasonography, a type of guidance using sound waves, can be used to make sclerotherapy safer. Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, non-invasive procedure that can greatly diminish the appearance of spider veins.
Side effects can include: brown lines or spots on the skin at the site of the injected blood vessels. Swelling, matting, ulcers and inflammation are also possible. |
Sclerotherapy works well for most patients. After several treatments, most patients can expect an 80% – 90% improvement, because each treatment will lighten the spider veins significantly. The treated veins will generally disappear within 3 to 12 weeks after treatment. After the procedure the walking is strongly recommended, because it increases leg circulation and helps prevent blood clots in other veins. Patients can return to normal activity after just 2 or 3 day.
Although treatment does not prevent the development of new spider veins, the removal of existing veins can dramatically improve the appearance of the affected area, providing a more healthy, youthful look and an even color pattern to the skin. Sclerotheraphy does not address the underlying cause of spider veins, therefore it is not a permanent cure – up to 70% of spider veins reappear after about three to four years.
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Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins
In standard sclerotherapy a liquid sclerosant (medicine) is injected into the veins to block them. In foam sclerotherapy, a foam made by mixing a liquid sclerosant with air or another gas is used instead. The foam is injected into the affected vein to fill it. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy should only be done using medicines licensed for sclerotherapy of varicose veins.
Problems after having foam sclerotherapy included inflammation of veins, blood clots (thrombosis) and changes in the skin’s colouring. The expert advisers were unsure about how well this procedure works. The published evidence did not clearly show a benefit, especially in the long term.
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Comments: 59
Comments
Comment from Chantal
Time: April 10, 2007, 3:18 pm
Can you please send me a list of clinics or hospitals where I can get schlerotherapy. I need the ones in Johannesburg or Pretoria in South Africa.
Comment from Agneshka
Time: June 26, 2009, 9:05 pm
Can you please send me a list of clinics or hospitals where I can get sclerotherapy in Johannesburg. Just good ones. I had already bad experience in mayo clinic and do not want anymore(((
Comment from peggy
Time: October 21, 2009, 1:34 pm
can you please send me a list of clinics or hospitals where i can get sclerotherapy in Pretoria or Johannesburg. The good ones.
Comment from anushka
Time: December 30, 2009, 7:58 pm
Hi try the above clinic for sclero tretaments
Comment from caroline
Time: January 11, 2010, 6:18 am
Would you kindly send me a list of recommended doctors in South Africa, preferably clinics or hospitals in Pretoria or Johannesburg, where I can get foam sclerotherapy. Thank you
Comment from Phinah Chadiba
Time: January 19, 2010, 9:14 pm
would you please end me number of sclerotherapists in Gauteng and i live in Johannesburg please would you do me that favour!!!!
Comment from ana
Time: January 26, 2010, 11:24 am
please advise where in Johannesburg Sclerotherapy is available
Comment from Sue
Time: February 21, 2010, 7:10 pm
Is foam sclerotheropy treatment for varicose veins on the leg available in SA. Could you recommend a clinic in the Boksburg Benoni or surrounding area. Rough estimate on costs would also be appreciated
Thank you
Comment from Jana
Time: March 7, 2010, 5:46 pm
Could you please send me a physical addresses of a clinics or hospitals in Johannesburg where I can get the spider vien sclerotherapy.
I am also interested if in the same clinics a doctor can remove by chemical pilling sun spots which look like a birthmarks on the skin?
Comment from g stenzel
Time: April 18, 2010, 4:57 pm
as above can you send me a list of clinics or doctors in south africa, preferably johannesburg or Pretoria that do sclerotherapy
Comment from NINI
Time: July 29, 2010, 6:14 pm
Can you please send me a list of clinics or hospitals where I can get the best Schlerotherapy. Preferably in Pretoria.
Also, a rough indication of costs would be appreciated.
Comment from Maryam
Time: August 17, 2010, 9:43 am
Please send me a list of very good clinics/doctors in Johannesburg that do Sclerotherapy. Many Thanks.
Comment from laura
Time: August 17, 2010, 6:07 pm
hi there,
i see everyone is looking for a place either in pretoria or jhb that does foam sclero.
why is there no reply??
im also looking
Comment from janine
Time: August 18, 2010, 8:11 am
please can you advise where i could find a reputable clinic for foam sclerotheropy treatment , in the Boksburg Benoni or surrounding area. Rough estimate on costs would also be appreciated.
Comment from ashford
Time: August 18, 2010, 12:16 pm
would u kindly send me details of good and trusted doctors that perform sclerotherapy in the gauteng area. Much apreciated
Comment from Sanjeev Prag
Time: August 28, 2010, 2:24 pm
please could you refer me to a surgeon / doctor Who Performs Sclerotherapy? in Durban South Africa
0847021167
Comment from Shar
Time: September 1, 2010, 12:05 am
Are there any places in Durban that provide this service,please could you send me a contact list if available, thanx:)
Comment from Julie
Time: September 13, 2010, 10:53 am
Could you please send me a list of doctors who do foam schlerotherapy in Johannesburg.
Comment from monique
Time: September 20, 2010, 10:29 am
please send a list of dr’s in Johannesburg that does the ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for spider veins a.s.a.p.
thanks
monique
Comment from L Prinsloo
Time: October 2, 2010, 7:50 am
Please email me a list of practitioners in the south of Johannesburg/Alberton area who do sclerotherapy
Comment from Vivien
Time: October 9, 2010, 8:10 pm
Please email me a list of practitioners in Vaal Triangle or Johannesburg who specialises in vein proplems and who does ultra sound foam sclerotherapy
Comment from A R PAYNE
Time: October 10, 2010, 7:32 pm
Please let me know where i can go for treatment sclerotherapy in the Northcliff area and do you have any idea of cost?
Thank you
Comment from moira
Time: October 24, 2010, 12:07 pm
The Vein Doctor at the Lakeview Clinic in Benoni specializes in vein treatment. I had Sclerotherapy done there about 5 years ago with oustanding results.
Comment from Tyron
Time: November 2, 2010, 11:47 am
Please advise the best hospital or clinic in Johannesburg for Sclerotherapy.
Comment from Candice
Time: November 9, 2010, 12:45 pm
Hi
I am looking for a practioner in JHB or PTA too – please can you email me some contacts
Thanks
Comment from Abigail Dhana
Time: November 17, 2010, 11:10 am
Please kindly e mail some contact in Johannesburg for sclerotherapy. Please also confirm approximate cost per session
Thanks
Comment from thenji
Time: November 17, 2010, 10:18 pm
comment from thenji
Time:November 17,2010,10pm
please email me a list of hospitals or docters in johannesbur g who specialise in vein problem who does ultra sound foam
and do you have any idea of cost? thank you
Comment from kathryn Green
Time: November 21, 2010, 4:01 pm
Please advise the best hospital or clinic in Johannesburg for Sclerotherapy.
Comment from rudy date
Time: November 25, 2010, 4:54 pm
please help me where can my wife go for treatment for sclerotherapy here in kawasaki,japan?
Comment from Jancie Govindan
Time: December 2, 2010, 1:31 pm
Please send me contact details of doctors in Durban that perform sclerotherapy in Durban, South Africa.
Thank you.
Comment from Adri
Time: December 6, 2010, 4:25 pm
Need list of doctors for schlero therapy in and around Jhb pls?!?!
Comment from BRENDA
Time: December 16, 2010, 12:21 am
Looking for a clinic in the East Rand area
Comment from Judy
Time: December 20, 2010, 1:47 pm
Please send me info on where sclerotherapy is performed in Durban, SA. Many thanks.
Comment from thembi
Time: January 11, 2011, 9:42 pm
plz advise me of the best hospital and clinic specialising with schlerotherapy in jhb please! Tel no,address etc.thembi
Comment from Nwabisa
Time: February 6, 2011, 8:48 am
I need to go for Sclerotherapy,please e-mail me details of the best clinic around Port Elizabeth.
Comment from Anita
Time: February 12, 2011, 6:59 am
Please kindly send me the contact details for the nearest clinic which specialises in schlerotherpy in Sandton area. thanks
Comment from Gwen Storm
Time: March 9, 2011, 10:24 am
Please can you advise where in Pretoria i can have Sclerotherapy
Please forward list Dr names and contact details please Thanks
Comment from Laurinda
Time: March 19, 2011, 12:26 pm
Please could you send me a list of top vein clinics in Durban..many thanks Laurinda
Comment from Arina
Time: March 30, 2011, 1:31 pm
Please send me a list / name and contact number of the best Dr for Sclerotherapy in JHB or even PTA is the best one is there
Comment from Anne
Time: April 15, 2011, 1:06 pm
Please can I have a list of places that perform sclerotherapy in jhb. Thanks.
Comment from celeste
Time: April 30, 2011, 3:08 pm
Hi
I would like a list of specialized doctors who perform this treatment in the vaal area. I am looking for a treatment to help my mother who has had an unsuccessful laser treatment and would like to know if she is still a possible candidate for this procedure…
Comment from Jackie
Time: June 1, 2011, 1:21 pm
Vein specialist in Durban doing VNUS closure – Dr Johan Blignaut – http://www.durbansurgeons.co.za
Comment from Jessie
Time: June 2, 2011, 2:00 am
as with others, please e-mail me list of doctors and facilities in Johannesburg / Pretoria where foam sclerotheraphy is done. Any idea on the costs involved will also be greatly appreciated.
Comment from thathi
Time: August 20, 2011, 9:31 pm
pls email me list of doctor where foam sclerotheraphy is done in jhb and krugersdorp pls sent also the total cost
Comment from octavia
Time: September 12, 2011, 10:24 pm
plz help were in Johanesburg can l see a doctor who will perfom the sclerotherapy?plz email me
Comment from Busi
Time: September 13, 2011, 11:39 am
I need a doctor in durban performing schlerotherapy.
Comment from Janet
Time: September 16, 2011, 3:02 pm
Plse e-mail me reliable clinic for lazer vein and approx cost
Comment from Leonie
Time: October 12, 2011, 4:21 pm
What is the closest clinic in the Centurion, Pretoria area for this schlerotherapy? I need contacting details please
Comment from claire
Time: October 13, 2011, 11:10 pm
Please can I have a list of reputable places that perform sclerotherapy in jhb. How much does it cost – I have on back of knees and side of outer calf
Comment from Shamil
Time: October 14, 2011, 12:21 am
plse help with info on surgeons in durban, who perform scleroherapy
Comment from Mpho
Time: October 18, 2011, 12:25 am
Hi, I live in Johannesburg and I desperately need to go for sclerotheraphy. Please could you give me details of Doctors than can help me? Tks
Comment from kgomotso
Time: October 30, 2011, 4:01 pm
kindly send me doctors names around gauteng-east rand who perform sclerotherapy and costs. thanx
Comment from sarisha
Time: November 8, 2011, 11:54 am
can you please send me alist of names and contacts of clinics here in durban
Comment from Melody
Time: November 12, 2011, 3:19 pm
Pls could you email me reliable Doctors and clinics that offer Sclerotherapy preferably in the Johannesburg and East Rand area*
Comment from Kameel
Time: November 14, 2011, 11:24 am
I need a doctor in durban performing schlerotherapy.
Comment from queenza
Time: November 14, 2011, 7:11 pm
Please email me list of doctors who perfom sclerotherapy in Johannesburg. Any idea how much it costs?
Thank you in advance.
Comment from marcia
Time: January 4, 2012, 9:48 am
Looking for a good Dr in PE performing sclerotherapy
Comment from meryl
Time: February 2, 2012, 8:29 am
Please send me the name of a Dr in Durban who performs sclerotherapy..also aprox costs..thank you
Comment from jaqueline nelson
Time: February 2, 2012, 11:29 am
Looking for a good Dr in johannesburgh performing sclerotherapy
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