Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical procedure, commonly performed for the treatment of spider and varicose veins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it work?
Is it effective?
What is it that you inject?
Will the veins come back?
How many treatments will it take?
What other methods are available?
How much is involved in one session?
What will my legs look like straight afterwards?
How long will I need off work?
Why do I have to wear compression stockings?
How much time do I have to leave between sessions?
Does it hurt?
What could the complications be?
How much does it cost?
Is it covered by private insurance or Medicare?

How does it work?

Sclerotherapy works by blocking off the vein and stopping blood flow in it. Without blood flowing through it, the vein will become invisible.

Is it effective?

Sclerotherapy is very effective. The success rate is about 85%. It depends on the flow of blood between the superficial and deep networks of veins in the leg.

What is it that you inject?

The most commonly used injections are high strength saline. Polidocanol is also very popular, as is sodium tetradecyl and hypertonic saline.

Will the veins come back?

The treated veins should not come back, but new veins may develop over time.

How many treatments will it take?

People differ in the extent of their problem and therefore in the amount of treatment needed. It is unusual for patients to need more than four treatments, and very common for two or three treatments to be necessary.

What other methods are available?

Sclerotherapy may be combined with laser therapy. Our Centre has several lasers available and some of them can be used to treat broken capillaries (see the Laser Treatment FAQ).

How much is involved in one session?

Usually one leg is treated completely at one session. Of course, some patients have so many veins that this is not practical.

What will my legs look like straight afterwards?

You will be wearing special dressings and compression stockings. It is a good idea to wear pants or a long skirt for your appointment. It is best if the pants are not too tight or stretchy (e.g. lycra) as the pressure bandages will make your legs look lumpy. The veins do tend to go slightly darker in colour before they disappear due to the colour of the blood inside the vein as it closes.

How long will I need off work?

You will not need to take time off work other than for your appointment. However, you should not plan to have any strenuous exercise, go back to the gym, or fly internationally for at least the first 48 hours.

Why do I have to wear compression stockings?

Compression stockings are used to keep pressure on the area to produce a better result and to increase comfort for the patient. Usually you need to wear these for 48 hours (without removing them), and longer for more severe cases. This means sponge baths will be necessary - no showers.

How much time do I have to leave between sessions?

We usually leave two weeks in between sessions on the same leg, and one week for alternate legs to allow time for healing.

Does it hurt?

Most patients find the treatment uncomfortable but much less so than they had imagined.

What could the complications be?

Complications occur in less than 1% of patients. The most common complication is to have a small dark mark at the injection site for a while. This is very uncommon with the use of hypertonic saline or polidocanol. It is more common with sodium tetradecyl. For most patients these marks fade very quickly, usually within two to three weeks. Some patients develop very tiny veins as a result of sclerotherapy. For most patients these fade quickly and for others very gentle conservative treatment with laser is necessary. Very, very rarely a small scar may result from treatment.

How much does it cost?

The cost for sclerotherapy is $250 per treatment session. The first treatment involves an extra $100 cost to cover the special dressings and compression stockings that need to be worn following sessions.

Is it covered by private insurance or Medicare?

Medicare will pay a rebate for the treatment of varicose veins of about $70.