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Varicose veins are a common problem, affecting up to 1 in 3 adults in their lifetime. They are usually a sign of an underlying venous insufficiency.
Thread veins can appear anywhere on the body but are mostly evidenced on the legs and face. They are more common than varicose veins, affecting up to 80% of adults.
Leg ulcers appear as broken skin in the lower leg or feet. We have been successfully treating venous leg ulcers for over 20 years.
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Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is the gold-standard treatment option for varicose veins when EVLA is not required, as recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It is important to note, though, that the vast majority of patients with varicose veins do require EVLA.
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Foam sclerotherapy is used to treat both the symptoms and the causes of varicose veins and thread veins. It is most commonly used as a secondary treatment following EVLA, specifically to treat the residual and smaller varicose veins. It is sometimes the necessary primary treatment required to treat the underlying vein condition.
Click here to watch Dr Suzie Anthony explain what foam sclerotherapy is.
Foam sclerotherapy is the procedure of injecting a diluted drug, mixed into foam with air, directly into the varicose veins. The foam displaces the blood in the veins and then the drug destroys the cells in the lining of the veins. The veins shrivel up and your body naturally breaks down and absorbs the dead tissue.
It is carried out on an outpatient basis, and usually takes no more than 30-45 minutes, depending on how many veins need treating.
Our patients do not usually find the treatment painful, and there is little to no recovery time following the procedure – meaning that you can usually resume normal activities straight away.
Your consultant and assisting nurse will welcome you into the treatment room. At your initial consultation, an ultrasound scan will have identified which veins require which treatment. A full explanation of the treatment options – including potential complications and success rates – will have been given to you.
At the start of the foam sclerotherapy treatment appointment, we encourage you to ask any further questions before signing to give your consent to the proposed treatment.
Music will be played during the treatment (your choice). Your nurse will be at your side throughout the appointment.
The veins to be treated are identified. The procedure involves a small needle (butterfly) being inserted into the vein(s) and the foam solution injected. The foam displaces the blood in the vein and attacks the lining of the vein wall, causing the vein to shrivel up. The foam ensures good contact with the cells in the lining of the vein, producing the most effective results. The shrunken veins are then broken down and absorbed gradually by your body. As with EVLA, once the veins have been destroyed, the blood is naturally rerouted to healthy veins, improving your circulation.
The procedure may be undertaken using ultrasound guidance, but this is dependent on the size of the veins being treated. Ultrasound guidance is used when treating large varicose veins; but for smaller veins that are close to the surface, it is not often necessary for the ultrasound to be used, as visual guidance is sufficient.
Due to the series of tiny injections involved in the foam sclerotherapy procedure, some patients find them uncomfortable or mildly painful. The sclerosant used can often sting slightly.
The procedure usually takes around 30-45 minutes.
The nurse will help you put on a compression stocking (two if you have had both legs treated) to be worn for 7 days following treatment. The nurse will explain how to wear and bathe in these and will also provide you with aftercare advice, including any post-treatment symptoms to be aware of.
You are encouraged to go on at least a 10-minute walk prior to returning home.
Following foam sclerotherapy treatment, you are to wear a class II compression stocking constantly for 7 days. This is unlikely to affect your movement, but we discourage you from going swimming in the stocking.
You can drive on the same day as foam sclerotherapy treatment.
We advise you to take a daily 20-minute daily walk, and we urge you to resume your normal activities.
We do, however, advise you listen to how your body feels and to not push it too far. Your body is doing a lot of the work for us in the weeks following treatment, absorbing the treated veins. If there is anything else that you should avoid for a period of time post-treatment, your consultant will advise you of this.
The sclerosant used can often cause some bruising of the skin, the extent of which depends on the size of the area treated and the number of veins in the area.
Click here to watch Dr Previn Diwakar explain how long it takes for foam sclerotherapy to work.
We are processing your answers – hold tight!
Question 1 of 4
Where are the veins you would like to treat?
Question 2 of 4
How do your veins affect you?
Question 3 of 4
How long have you had these for?
Question 4 of 4
Please let use know when you might be looking for treatment?
Depending on the extent of your veins and how you respond to the initial session of injections, you may need to return for further treatment.
If an underlying valve problem is found during your consultation, your treatment pathway is likely to involve the EVLA stages outlined within the Varicose Vein Treatment Pathway, rather than simply foam sclerotherapy.
Although some doctors treat large veins by foam sclerotherapy, the results are not as effective or as durable as EVLA. We want to ensure that your treatment has long-lasting results and sorts the root of the problem, and as such we do not recommend foam sclerotherapy as a primary treatment for the majority of patients. We do use foam sclerotherapy for any residual varicosities remaining at follow-up after EVLA. Some patients with recurrence of varicose veins after EVLA may just need some foam sclerotherapy.
Click here to watch Dr Suzie Anthony explain why we normally use foam sclerotherapy in combination with EVLA.
With all medical treatments it’s important to weigh up the benefits versus the risks. With that in mind, we have provided you with a full outline of the known vein treatment risks or click here to watch Dr Suzie Anthony explain treatment risks.
What are the chances of foam sclerotherapy staining my skin?
Foam sclerotherapy has a 10% risk of causing skin-staining. This staining can last for many months and although it almost always fades completely with time, we cannot guarantee that it will.
How soon can I jog again after foam sclerotherapy?
The simple answer is as soon as you feel like it. Our advice would be to listen to your own body, and to not exceed your body’s limits whilst exercising.
Why would I have EVLA over foam sclerotherapy?
Foam sclerotherapy treatment is cheaper than EVLA treatment, but in the majority of patients, EVLA is much more effective. Foam sclerotherapy is only suitable as the primary treatment option for a small minority of patients. A duplex ultrasound scan is necessary to determine whether you are suitable for treatment by foam solely.
The success rate of treating the underlying cause of varicose veins solely with foam sclerotherapy is low.
