Sclerotherapy can treat small and medium-sized varicose veins in the legs with a simple procedure and excellent and permanent results in addition to the treatment of spider veins, learn about the methods of sclerotherapy of varicose veins without surgery in Turkey, its advantages and disadvantages, and for whom it is performed.
When you decide it's time to get rid of spider veins or varicose veins, one of the best treatment options is sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a simple procedure, takes less than an hour, and you can return to your daily activities immediately after treatment.
There has been a significant change in medical practice in the past ten years. Several new minimally invasive treatment techniques have been described and put into use. The main objective is to avoid surgical removal of the varicose veins, avoid the need for general anesthesia, incisions in the legs and admission to the hospital operating room leading to a quick recovery from treatment. Radiofrequency-guided foam sclerotherapy is well established as a method for achieving long-term treatment of varicose veins.
What are varicose veins?
Improper one-way valves in the veins of the legs and weak vein walls are thought to be the cause of varicose veins and the formation of varicose veins. The blood is unable to flow effectively to the heart, and instead stays in the veins, usually in the legs. As it accumulates in the veins of the legs, the veins expand and varicose veins form. Not everyone with varicose veins needs treatment.
Who are the patients candidates for the treatment of varicose veins?
Symptoms that may require treatment include:
- discomfort in the legs
- swollen legs
- itching
- A burning or throbbing sensation
- skin thickness
- Non-healing sores on the legs
- Previous blood clots
- Varicose bleeding
Varicose vein treatment options
Before undergoing surgery, sclerotherapy, laser treatment for varicose veins, or any other treatment method. Lifestyle changes should be tried first.
Lifestyle changes are changes you can make to the way you live your life, and generally don't require medical intervention. This can include losing excess weight, exercising, elevating the legs, and wearing special stockings.
After taking a medical history and a clinical examination, a doctor specializing in vessels takes imaging to check the blood flow and structure of the veins of the legs before suggesting the appropriate treatment for varicose veins. In the past, only highly invasive surgical treatments were available to remove varicose veins.
Vein stripping is an operation in which varicose veins are removed by the surgeon through incisions. It is not the most preferred option due to the number of incisions usually required, and also due to the long recovery time required.
However, varicose vein specialists are now offering new options for treating varicose veins with lasers, which have replaced older surgical methods. Among the best modern methods of treating varicose veins:
- Laser Varicose Ablation – With the help of radiofrequency-guided laser technology, laser varicose veins treatment is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment with immediate results and no long recovery time. After local anesthesia is given, a varicose vein specialist inserts a small catheter into the vein with radiofrequency guidance. This is followed by a small laser fiber, which delivers light laser energy, causing the vein to close. The operation takes only about 10 minutes and does not require hospitalization.
- Sclerotherapy – During this procedure, a varicose specialist uses a fine needle to insert a sclerotherapy substance into a vein that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This powerful medicine causes the vein to close. Over time, the blocked vein is absorbed by the body and disappears. Sessions are usually completed in-clinic, within 20 minutes per leg.
When it's time to seek treatment, an angiologist who specializes in treating varicose veins, spider veins, and other symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency can use the latest varicocelectomy and sclerotherapy techniques.
Because no scalpels or sutures are used in either treatment, there are no long-term scarring or keloids.
There is minimal discomfort, and most treatments are nearly painless. Most people can resume their daily activities immediately after treatment.
What is the treatment of varicose veins sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is used to treat varicose veins and “spider veins”. During sclerotherapy, the doctor injects the solution directly into the affected vein. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view. Sclerotherapy is a well-proven procedure that has been in use since the 1930s.
How successful is sclerotherapy in treating varicose and spider veins?
Sclerotherapy is effective for most patients. It is estimated that between 50 and 80% of the injected vein can be eliminated per session. Few people (less than 10%) who have varicose veins treated with sclerotherapy do not respond to injections at all. In these cases, different solutions or a different method of treatment, such as laser therapy, may be tried.
Small (spider) varicose veins respond to treatment within 3 to 6 weeks, and large varicose veins respond within 3 to 4 months. If the varicose veins respond to treatment, they usually do not recur. However, new veins may appear over time. If necessary, you can return for the injection.
Am I a candidate for varicose veins sclerotherapy?
Before the procedure, you'll meet with a vascular specialist who will assess your eligibility for varicose veins sclerotherapy.
You are not eligible for sclerotherapy if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or bedridden. You must wait at least 3 months after giving birth before this procedure is considered.
You can get sclerotherapy if you are taking birth control pills. If you've had a blood clot in the past, it will depend on what caused the clot and how severe it was.
Varicose veins treatment by sclerotherapy and details of the procedure
How are varicose veins treated with sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is done in a doctor's office. The treatment area is disinfected. The solution is injected directly into the blood vessels using very fine needles.
The number of veins injected in one session depends on the size and location of the veins and the general medical condition of the patient. You may feel mild discomfort when injecting into veins, and a cramping sensation for 1-2 minutes when injecting into a large vein.
How to prepare before treating varicose veins by sclerotherapy
Preparing for the treatment of varicose veins includes many instructions, some of which are:
Medications: Before treating varicose veins with sclerotherapy, some medications should be avoided. Please follow these instructions:
- Tetracycline or Minocin, both antibiotics, may cause skin sensitivity if one of these medications is taken 7 to 10 days after sclerotherapy. Ask your doctor about other antibiotic medications you may be taking, or ask for safe directions for stopping these medications. If you are required to take an antibiotic before any surgical procedure, such as dental procedures, colonoscopy, or surgery, please inform your doctor.
- Do not take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medications for 48 hours before and after sclerotherapy, because these medications may interfere with the action of the sclerotherapy or increase bleeding. Tylenol® allowed. Ask your doctor for specific instructions before stopping any medication.
- Prednisone makes the sclerotherapy less effective. Ask the doctor who prescribed your prednisone if it can be safely stopped 48 hours before sclerotherapy.
Other instructions before treating varicose veins with sclerotherapy
- No lotion should be applied to the legs before or after sclerotherapy.
- We recommend bringing a pair of shorts to wear during the procedure.
- If you have had compression stockings (support stockings) from your previous varicose veins treatment, please bring them with you so we can be sure they will provide adequate support after the procedure.
How long is sclerotherapy for?
Sclerotherapy takes about half an hour to an hour.
What happens after sclerotherapy?
After treatment, you will be able to drive yourself home. You can resume your usual activities and are encouraged to walk.
Your doctor will ask you to wear compression stockings for the treated vessels. Check how effective your compression stockings are and ask your doctor about them.
For 48 hours after the procedure, please follow these instructions:
- Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory drugs. Tylenol® can be used if needed for pain relief.
- Do not take a hot shower or sit in a Jacuzzi or sauna. You can shower, but the water should be cooler than usual.
- Wash the injection sites with a mild soap and lukewarm water.
- Do not apply hot compresses or any form of heat to the injected areas.
- Avoid direct exposure to sunlight.
Contact your doctor if you have any concerns or questions after the procedure.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS) is a highly specialized procedure for treating advanced varicose veins that are hidden under the skin.
This highly effective procedure involves injecting a sclerotic solution into the dilated veins with radiofrequency guidance, causing the vein wall to collapse. The veins dissolve and disappear as the body gradually absorbs them.
How is the treatment of varicose veins guided by ultrasound?
A detailed sonar scan is performed prior to the procedure to create a virtual map of the leg veins. This map accurately displays all abnormal veins, as well as nearby structures such as deep veins and arteries, and helps phlebologists determine the cause of visible varicose veins.
After the ultrasound examination, the patient lies in a comfortable position on the treatment bed with the legs exposed. With sonar guidance, the doctor can precisely guide the needle and inject hidden abnormal veins, while observing the process on a monitor.
Once injected, the treated vessel collapses and is gradually absorbed by the body, disappearing over time. A number of injections will be required along the length of the vein to achieve complete closure.
An important advantage of this method is that it allows the vascular specialist to monitor the effect of each injection, while ensuring the integrity of all adjacent structures. Using a hardener as a foam, rather than a solution, made this procedure more effective.
What happens after varicose veins treatment by ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy?
The treatment usually takes half an hour, but one hour is allotted to allow enough time for the ultrasound examination, and to explain the procedure to the patient. After this procedure, you are provided post-operatively with grade 2 graduated compression stockings and asked to walk for 30-40 minutes to promote blood flow to the DVT.
A review appointment with your doctor is usually made one week after treatment with the injection. At this review appointment, the doctor performs another ultrasound exam to confirm that the injection treatment has been successful and any remaining spider or varicose veins are injected using the microtherapy technique.
What are the side effects of varicose veins treatment with sclerotherapy?
Side effects of sclerotherapy may include:
- The injected veins may become lumpy or hard for several months before they improve.
- Raised red areas at the injection sites and should disappear within a few days.
- Brown streaks or spots on the skin at the injection site, possibly caused by some type of iron leaking from the blood in the injected veins. In most cases, it disappears within 3 to 6 months, but about 5% of cases always remain.
- Bruising may occur around the injection site and may last several days or weeks.
- Small temporary blood vessels may develop in the treated area. This is called revascularization or 'flushing'. They may appear days or weeks after injection therapy, but should clear up within a few months and usually do not require further treatment.
- Allergic reactions to the hardening agent may occur at the time of injection and are rarely serious. Symptoms include itching and swelling.
Other side effects are rarely seen after sclerotherapy. If you have any of these rare side effects, please Contact your doctor Immediately:
- Inflammation (swelling) in the groin.
- Sudden swelling in the leg.
- Small sores at the injection site.
- Red streak, especially in the groin area.
What are the results of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy?
results indicate numerous studies indicates that 80-90% of the veins are always closed by parenteral therapy when examined five years later by ultrasound. This is similar to the success rate of other new technologies. Clinical trials comparing surgery, sclerotherapy, laser ablation, and radiofrequency ablation found that clinically evaluated and patient-reported outcomes were identical.
Advantages of treating varicose veins with sclerotherapy
- Avoid intravenous surgery and there is no discomfort after the injection treatment.
- Much less bruising than surgery.
- There is no need for general anesthesia, incisions in the legs, or admission to the hospital or operating room.
- There are no scars.
- Retreatment of other varicose veins is simple.
- Less expensive than surgical treatment.
- No need to take time off work after injection therapy.
Disadvantages of treating varicose veins with sclerotherapy
- Treatment with the injection produces mild leg discomfort that may last for 2-4 weeks.
- It also results in mild bruising and some lumps that may persist for several weeks after the injection treatment. However, these two symptoms are considered complications of surgical treatment of varicose veins.
- The final result of injectable varicose veins treatment may take several months to develop after treatment, but the results of varicose veins surgery are faster.
The Bimaristan center Medical is your first choice for treatment in Turkey.
We direct you to the best specialists, experts in all fields, we break the language barrier, Arab specialist doctors will help you in communicating with your doctor, we help you book an appointment in the most important and modern hospitals in Turkey, we offer our services to secure hotel reservations for you and your companions, in addition to transportation, we help you secure a travel visa for you for free.
We provide our services throughout Turkey, the best place to provide you with treatment is our destination.
We will be with you step by step towards recovery.
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do not hesitate contact us, Bimaristan Family Center in Turkey. To get the best way to treat varicose veins by sclerotherapy in Turkey or by injection by the most skilled vascular or plastic surgeons without any side effects and with guaranteed results at reasonable prices.