Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a treatment for varicose veins in which a fluid is injected into several parts of the vein. Next, the veins are compressed using a wad of cotton wool, bandage and/or a tight-fitting stocking. The injected fluid causes the vein walls to stick together and to shrivel up in just a few weeks. The blood will then be forced to flow through the other veins. There are a sufficient number of other veins in the legs to take over the task of these varicose veins.

The advantages of sclerotherapy are that many veins can be treated simultaneously and that it is a minimally invasive treatment. The disadvantages of sclerotherapy are that you will need to wear elastic compression stockings after treatment for several days or even weeks, and that sometimes new tiny veins or (temporary) pigment spots occur.

Treating varicose veins with sclero-compression therapy

What is sclero-compression therapy?

Sclerosing is a treatment for varicose veins in which fluid is injected into the varicose vein in a few places. Then the veins are flattened (compression) by putting a cotton wool plug, a bandage and/or a tight stocking around them. The injected fluid causes the walls of the veins to stick together and shrivel up in a few weeks. The blood then flows through the other veins. You have enough veins in your legs that can take over the job of these varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy treatment

Before the treatment

It is important not to grease your legs with oil or cream on the day of treatment. This is because the plasters used during treatment will not stick to oily skin. If you have a plaster allergy, please inform the doctor.

You must not be pregnant or breastfeeding during treatment.

The treatment

The treatment takes about 20 minutes. Cotton wool plugs are placed in the areas where the vessels are injected. The cotton wool plugs are secured with plasters or a bandage. This is to give extra pressure on the veins, so that the vessel walls stick together properly. At the end of the treatment, you will be given elastic stockings to put on. You can purchase these from us at cost price (29 euros each). If you already have stockings at home, please bring them with you. The number of treatment sessions in total depends on the amount of varicose veins, usually one leg is treated at a time. After treatment, you should walk for about 15 minutes.

Aftercare

For the first few days, you will need to wear the stockings day and night. The plasters will also remain in place during this time. The stockings must not get wet. Do not shower! After 2 days you can remove the stockings and plasters yourself in the evening. You will then need to continue wearing the elastic stockings during the day, usually for 5 to 12 days. Exactly how long will be discussed with you during the consultation. The elastic stockings provide support. If you have complaints, feel free to wear them for longer than the recommended period.

It is best to put on the elastic stockings in bed in the morning. Take them off in the evening just before going to bed.

Tip: save your compression stockings. You can wash them at 30 degrees and take them with you if you have a follow-up appointment for sclerosing (‘injecting’).

Further information

The first check-up will take place after 3 months. Healing is generally faster if you follow the following advice:

In the first 2 weeks, it is good to cycle and walk. Other sports, including e.g. fitness and aerobics, are best avoided for a while (2 weeks), or in consultation with the doctor.
Taking warm baths, hot showers or saunas is not recommended in the first 2 weeks. This is because the heat causes too much dilation of the veins. Showering with lukewarm water is possible after the first 4 days.
Long (bus) journeys or flights are not recommended in the first two weeks after treatment

Possible complications and/or side effects

• Under the stockings, bruising and/or painful, hard, palpable booty or strands may appear (sometimes not until several weeks after treatment).
• Sometimes these spots may turn (slightly) red.
• In exceptional cases, superficial vein inflammation (phlebitis) may develop. The (injected) vein then feels warm, thick, red and painful. In this case, you can (re)wear the treatment stockings to relieve the pain. Some bumps will disappear only after several months. Sometimes a blister may form at the treatment site or under a plaster. It is therefore important to remove plasters carefully.
• Light brown discolouration/pigmentation of the skin may occur at the site of the varicose veins. This is a harmless phenomenon that usually disappears after a few months to a year. If you go out in the sun, lubricate these areas with a good sunscreen (factor 30 or more).
• Allergic reactions to the patches or injection fluid used
• Migraine or migraine-like symptoms after the injections
• In some cases, new, small varicose veins (‘matting’) appear around the treated varicose vein. This is a non-dangerous but disfiguring complication that occurs in about 10-15% of patients. This matting often reduces over the course of a year, but is sometimes permanent.
• A rare harmless complication is fine hair growth in the trajectory of the treated vein. This often disappears spontaneously.]
• A rare but possible complication after treatment is the occurrence of deep venous thrombosis. This is a blockage of a larger vein. The symptoms that may indicate this are: a severely swollen, painful leg. In such a case, warn us, or your GP, immediately.

If you still have questions after reading this information, you can always contact us during consultation hours by calling 020-8203465.

In case of an emergency, the doctor can also be reached outside these hours, on the same telephone number, choice 0 from the menu (direct transfer to a doctor).

Any questions about sclerotherapy?

If you have any questions, please contact us during consultation hours at 020 8203465.

Prices and reimbursements

Sclerotherapy €220 (per leg, max. 20 min.)
Elastic compression stockings €29 (per stocking)
Hip stocking with band €39 (per stocking)

Reimbursements

Sclerotherapy is usually not covered by health insurance (sometimes it is covered by supplementary health insurance). You must have a referral note from your GP for all treatments covered by health insurance.
If you have not been referred by your GP, the costs of the first consultation amount to €350.00 (including duplex scan and treatment plan).

Any questions?

If you have any questions, please contact us during consultation hours at 020 8203465.