Sclerotherapy Treatment What is S clerotherapy? Sclerotherapy is a treatment we use to eliminate varicose veins and the appearance of spider veins. It involves injecting a solution into the vein that irritates the lining of the blood vessel and causes it to collapse. The blood in the vein coagulates and eventually turns into scar tissue, disappearing from view and then being reabsorbed by the surrounding tissue. Many of our patients choose this procedure for cosmetic purposes, but it also improves symptoms such as pain, swelling, or leg cramps. Sclerotherapy Treatment procedure is usually done in the doctor's clinic . It does not require anesthesia and generally takes 15 minutes t o an hour to complete. Patients lie on their back with their legs slightly elevated. After cleaning the treatment area with alcohol, the doctor uses a fine needle to slowly insert a solution or foam into the vein. Some patients experience mild stinging or cramping when the needle is inserted. The injection solution or foam irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to swell and block blood flow. Once the needle is removed, the doctor will apply compression and massage the area to keep blood out of the inj ected vessel and disperse the solution. A compression pad may be taped to the site to keep the area compressed while your doctor moves on to the next vein. The number of injections depends on the number and size of the veins to be treated. Although the pr ocedure was originally used primarily to treat cosmetic problems with varicose or spider veins, this is no longer true. Sclerotherapy is also used to treat the underlying pathology that is causing the unsightly visible veins in the first place. This underl ying pathology can cause pain and discomfort, and fortunately, sclerotherapy can alleviate the discomfort that accompanies that underlying condition. Veins that respond well to treatment do not reappear. You may need more than one treatment to achieve the desired results.