Improving Your Legs' Appearance with Foam Sclerotherapy

Updated on: August 18, 2014

Individuals in Shrewsbury, New Jersey and around the country have found relief from spider veins through foam sclerotherapy, a non-invasive treatment designed to help patients get rid of spider veins in an effective manner. Patients often turn to foam sclerotherapy for its non-invasive qualities, as there is no recovery time afterwards and patients are typically able to resume normal activities immediately after treatment. Through injections of a foam sclerant, foam sclerotherapy works to irritate vessel walls to cause the vein to shrink and collapse so that blood may no longer flow through them.

Candidates for form sclerotherapy may include those with spider veins or small varicose veins. Individuals experiencing larger varicose veins may be encouraged to seek other methods of treatment to find relief. Those with certain blood or cardiovascular problems and women who are pregnant may not be considered candidates for this procedure. It is important that patients discuss their candidacy with a trained professional in the Shrewsbury area to help determine if this treatment is right for them.

The procedure begins with the application of a topical anesthetic for patient comfort. With the area being treated numbed, the specialist performing the procedure will inject the area with a sclerosing foam while using ultrasound technology to ensure that it spreads effectively in the area. More than one injection may be necessary depending on the size of the area being treated. It may take between 30 and 45 minutes to perform this treatment.

As mentioned, one of the key benefits of foam sclerotherapy is that it does not require a recovery period. Patients are usually allowed to resume normal activities after the procedure. If veins in the legs are treated, patients may be required to wear compression stockings for a couple of days to aid in the healing process. Patients should follow the recovery instructions given to them by the Shrewsbury medical professional that performed the procedure. Most patients are able to achieve optimal results after one treatment, although some may require more than one treatment to achieve satisfactory results.

It was reported by the FDA that foam sclerotherapy may be associated with a higher risk of microembolisms. These are tiny blood clots that may form in the treatment area. Itching, redness and bruising are other possible side effects associated with this procedure, but these should resolve on their own within a few days of the procedure.

Foam sclerotherapy offers a few benefits over traditional sclerotherapy procedures. In a foam sclerotherapy procedure, a foam formulation is used whereas in a traditional sclerotherapy procedure, a liquid formulation is used. The foam formulation is easier to view on ultrasound, making it easier to track to ensure the proper spread throughout the treatment area. What's more, the foam formulation is more effective in displacing blood in the vessel, allowing for greater contact with the vessel wall.

Each session of sclerotherapy may cost between $200 and $400, although this varies depending on the extent of the treatment area and at which clinic that the patient chose to receive treatment.

Learn more about foam sclerotherapy in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

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