Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy (Injection) is a cosmetic procedure for the elimination of asymptomatic and unwanted veins for patients. Cosmetic sclerotherapy involves the use of injections of small amounts of solutions (sclerosant) to irritate the vein walls and achieve the ultimate closure of the vein.  The functions of a sclerosant is to create endothelial injury within the vein resulting in thrombosis, thrombolysis, and fibrosis eliminating the unwanted veins permanently.  The FDA has only approved (2) medications for the elimination of these veins; Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (STS) – Sodium 1-isobutyl-4ethyloctyl sulfate which is a synthetic long chain-fatty acid and Asclera™ (POL) – Hydroxy-polyethoxy-dodecane which is a synthetic long-chain fatty alcohol.  Typically the treatment protocol is over a series of (3) treatments with an estimated 80% improvement between treatments.  Maintenance treatments are needed for the majority of cosmetic sclerotherapy patients and short-term efficacy and correction should also be considered relating to future treatments.