Watch a video of Dr. John Tan performing injection sclerotherapy.

Injection sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat spider veins and small varicose veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the spider veins in order to close the veins and caused it to disappear. Injection sclerotherapy has been used to treat varicose veins since 1930’s.

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Sclerotherapy is performed in a doctor’s clinic. During this procedure, an extremely fine and usually painless needle is placed into the vein. A small amount of sclerosing solution is then injected into the vein. This solution causes irritation of the lining of the vein wall, which causes the vein to spasm and become a small fibrous thread, resulting in permanent closure of the vein. These closed veins will be absorbed by the body and typically disappear in 1-3 months.

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The Vein Clinic uses the following solutions, either as neat solution or as foam.

• Sodium Tetradecyl Sulphate
• Sclerosant

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Sclerotherapy is ideal for treatment of spider veins. It can also be used to treat small varicose veins. Studies has shown that as many as 50-80 percent of injected veins may be eliminated with each injection session. Patient satisfaction can usually be achieved 95% of the time.

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In THE VEIN CLINIC, this technique is combined with imaging equipment to further enhance its accuracy and effectiveness. For deep underlying veins, we used High Resolution Ultrasound Machines to provide a visual window, so that medication can be administered accurately. For veins located just beneath the surface, we use the Vein-lite, an imaging device that uses Optical Transillumination Technology, to guide our needle for enhance accuracy.

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Insurance does not cover sclerotherapy if it is performed for cosmetic reasons. However, if the spider veins are causing significant symptoms like pain, aches, tired legs and heavy legs, their treatment can be considered as medical and reimbursable by some insurance.

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