Sclerotherapy
Varicose veins and spider veins will affect close to 40 million Americans, mostly women. Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure which is used to treat these varicose veins and spider veins through the use of sodium chloride injected directly into the vein. This particular procedure has been used since the 1930s to treat varicose veins. If left untreated these normally cosmetic problems can increase the risk for blood clots, skin ulcers, pain and discomfort.
Sclerotherapy is performed in the physician’s office using a 23% solution of sodium chloride mix with lidocaine. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic used to help numb the area. Heparin is also added to the solution. This is injected directly into the blood vessel using a very fine needle. The solution is designed to irritate the lining and cause it to swell and stick together. According to radiologyinfo.org, the blood will clot within the vessel and eventually the vessel turns to scar tissue and is reabsorbed by the body. (16)