Vein Treatments - Sclerotherapy - FAQs

Sclerotherapy : Frequntly Asked Questions

How does Sclerotherapy work?

At Medical Aesthetics of New England, PC, we use a medication called Polidocanol as a sclerosing agent. This irritates the lining of the veins, and the healing process collapses them.

How long does the procedure take?

For larger vessels, we will apply a pressure dressing. The pressure dressing may be changed, but should be kept on for 48 hours, and support hose worn during the daytime for an additional week. This is to keep pressure on the vessels and make sure they stay closed during the healing process. At Medical Aesthetics of New England, PC, we offer medical grade support hose, specifically fitted to you.

What about after the procedure?

All parts of the body can be treated.

How long does the procedure take?

It depends on the area being treated. Spot treatment of one area may only take a few minutes, and larger or more numerous areas will take longer.

Can I wear any support hose?

We strongly recommend medical grade support hose for vein treatment. These hose are available from us and are much more durable and longer lasting than those purchased at the pharmacy or Walmart. Your hose need to provide a specific amount of compression to your legs. Store bought hose have less compression around the ankles and more on the upper portion, and this will counteract what you are trying to achieve, as cheaper hose will encourage pooling of blood in your lower legs, and therefore in the treated vessels. Also, cheaper hose often tear while putting them on, and lose their compression much too quickly.

Is sclerotherapy painful?

Topical or other anesthesia is not required - the only effect felt during injection is a hot or tingling sensation that is usually well tolerated. Polidocanol itself acts a local anesthetic and is much less painful than hypertonic saline, with fewer side effects.

Is it safe?

Complications are rare. In less than 1% of cases, skin lightning or darkening may occur. It is advisable to wear sunblock when in the sun during the month following leg vein treatment.

How many treatments are required?

If your vessels haven’t been treated before, excellent results are often obtained after a single session, but additional sessions may be required to clean up left over vessels. At Medical Aesthetics of New England, PC, we often we combine sclerotherapy with laser treatment of veins.

Is it permanent?

Yes. Destroyed vessels should not re-appear. As you age, other vessels may appear, sometimes in the same area treated. At Medical Aesthetics of New England, PC, we photograph the areas treated to provide documentation of effectiveness.

Is Polidocanol FDA approved for treatment of veins?

Yes. It was only formally approved in early 2010, but there is vast experience with Polidocanol. There are fewer reactions and it is less painful than other sclerosants, including hypertonic saline and sotradecol. Of the various sclerosants, it is the least toxic or prone to ulceration.

Are there any side effects?

Side effects are minimal and are generally limited to a slight redness of the skin, which should not persist for more than a few hours. Sometimes there is darkening of the vessel from areas of accumulated blood, but this generally fades over a few weeks. If any of these areas are lumpy or painful, we will examine you in a week and remove these if needed. Rarely there may be matting (extremely fine, superficial vessels) that appears as a result of treatment, but these generally fade over a few months, or may be further treated.

Can I still wear make-up?

Yes, you can re-apply make-up immediately after the procedure. We can help you select makeup that will complement the effect of your treatment.

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