Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy services offered in Fayetteville, Lumberton, Erwin and Saint Pauls, NC

As many as 50% of adults in the United States have spider and varicose veins. At Carolina Heart and Leg Center in Fayetteville, Lumberton, Erwin, and Saint Pauls, North Carolina, Hari Saini, MD, and the team offer sclerotherapy as a treatment option to get rid of spider or varicose veins. The minimally invasive treatment causes the veins to collapse, close, and fade away over time. To see how sclerotherapy can get rid of your varicose or spider veins, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that treats spider veins and varicose veins. During sclerotherapy, your provider at Carolina Heart and Leg Center injects a chemical into your visible vein, irritating the blood vessel, and causing it to collapse and close.

Am I a candidate for sclerotherapy?

The Carolina Heart and Leg Center team determines if you’re a candidate for sclerotherapy after a consultation. The vascular and leg pain experts may recommend this minimally invasive treatment if you have varicose veins that cause symptoms like:

Burning, itching, or aching
Leg weakness or heaviness
Leg swelling
Muscle cramps
Skin ulcers or discoloration

If you have spider veins that are bothersome, the team can use sclerotherapy to treat them as well.

The team uses sclerotherapy to treat spider veins and small varicose veins. For larger varicose veins, Carolina Heart and Leg Center may recommend endovenous laser therapy (EVLT).

Though varicose veins aren’t necessarily harmful to your health, the above symptoms may indicate you have an underlying circulation problem called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Spider veins may also be an early sign of circulation problems.

How do I know if I have CVI?

The team at Carolina Heart and Leg Center completes a vascular ultrasound to evaluate the flow of blood through the veins in your legs to confirm that you have a circulation problem like CVI.

Symptoms from varicose veins plus poor circulation make you a candidate for sclerotherapy.

What happens during sclerotherapy?

The Carolina Heart and Leg Center team performs sclerotherapy at the office. They review the details of your procedure at your initial consultation so you know what to expect and how to prepare.

First, they perform a vascular ultrasound to find the damaged vein. Then, they clean your skin and inject the medication into the vein using a thin needle. You may feel a pinching sensation during the insertion of the needle and burning from the injection.

You may need several injections during a sclerotherapy session, depending on the size and location of the diseased vein.

What can I expect after sclerotherapy?

After sclerotherapy, the Carolina Heart and Leg Center team has you relax in the office for about 15 minutes for monitoring and then sends you home. You can drive yourself home following sclerotherapy.

The team requests you wear compression stockings for a couple of weeks to support the healing process. It may take several weeks for the treated veins to disappear.

Are you looking for an effective treatment for your varicose vein? Call Carolina Heart and Leg Center or schedule an appointment online today to see if sclerotherapy is right for you.