Sclerotherapy FAQs | Jacksonville

Sclerotherapy is a nearly 60 year old non-surgical vein reduction/removal treatment most commonly used on patients with spider veins and smaller varicose veins, although advances in various forms of this therapy also allow us to use it to treat medium to large-sized varicose veins. The standard form of treatment is administered by injecting the affected spider or varicose vein with sclerosant using a tiny needle. At St. Johns Vein Center in Jacksonville, Sclerotherapy treatments are available in 3 different varieties:

• Ultrasound
• Liquid
• Foam

Sclerotherapy guided by ultrasound is a major breakthrough in vein treatment technology that allows us to treat medium and larger sized varicose veins that are not able to be seen on the surface of the skin. In the past, the only way to deal with these types of vein abnormalities was through surgery. Today, with the use of duplex ultrasound technology, we are able to locate affected veins in the legs and other parts of the body that would otherwise be hidden from view. During this procedure, an expert technician maps out the veins and determines which need injections and which can be spared. Then, the sclerotherapy doctor can decide the amount of injections necessary to make the vein shrink and eventually disappear. Jacksonville area residents whom have already undergone vein surgery may be able to take advantage of this technology to treat cases of recurring varicose veins.

Liquid Sclerotherapy (also known as Injection Therapy) is the standard procedure used to treat spider veins, reticular veins, and smaller types of varicose veins. The sclerotherapy doctor injects a specially developed medication inside the affected vein. After the injection, the vein wall initially becomes inflamed through irritation, causing the vein to become scarred and closed up. Once closed, the healthy vessels around the affected vein are able to absorb the blood flow of the vein that has been closed. This process can be aided with regular leg exercises like walking or running. This type of therapy carries a high rate of effectiveness with small to medium sized vessels with relatively few complications.

Foam Sclerotherapy is a method involving injection of foam sclerosant drugs inside the vessel with a syringe. When it comes to treatment of long and large varicose veins, Jacksonville area residents can benefit greatly from this treatment. This is because before injection, the sclerosant drugs are mixed with air and carbon dioxide, thus increasing the surface area of the drug and allowing for maximal sclerosant action.

At St. Johns Vein Center in Jacksonville, the cost of the procedure depends on each individual case and the type of Sclerotherapy needed. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of treatment in cases where the varicose veins are deemed to be problematic. For patients without coverage from insurance, our clinic offers several other payment options, including:

• Cash
• Personal Checks
• Visa
• Master Card
• American Express
• Discover
• Diner's Club
• CareCredit

When administered by a qualified vein care professional, this procedure is known to be among the safest and most effective treatments; however, there are some common side effects that may occur in a very small percentage of cases to include:

• Temporary stinging red skin patches causing discomfort around the area of the injection - this usually goes away not long after the procedure is completed.
• Temporary bruising around the area of the injection - this also usually goes away not long after the procedure is completed.
• Brown lines, spots, and/or pockets of red blood vessels near the affected area - this will normally disappear less than a year after the treatment is completed.
• Lumps inside injected vessels - although they are not dangerous, patients with lumps are advised to contact St. Johns Vein Center right away and schedule an appointment with Dr. St. George to have them removed.