Thread: Sclerotherapy FAQ

My name is Dr. Thomas Wright. I am a board-certified phlebologist, a certified sonographer, and the director of Laser Lipo and Vein Center. These are some answered questions about sclerotherapy..hope they can help!

Q: There is a large vein on my face that doesn't appear to be a broken capillary or spider vein. Could sclerotherapy be used to treat it, or would something else be better?
A: Sclerotherapy is an excellent treatment for large bluish veins that usually on the temples. Sclerotherapy, however, is not very good at treating the fine reddish vessels in the center of the face.

Q: Is it bad for your health to have sclerotherapy? It seems dangerous to inject chemicals like that directly into the bloodstream. Couldn't they spread and cause damage to other veins/areas of the body?
A: The known risk of toxicity from foam sclerotherapy is extremely low. The effects of sclerotherapy are generally quite localized to the treated veins and the communicating veins nearby. The injected solution is quickly diluted a few centimeters form the injection sites, and generally does not cause damage to other areas.