Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

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Are you tired of dealing with painful, ugly veins on your legs? We hear you. If you’ve been diagnosed with vein disease, also known as venous insufficiency, you may experience unpleasant symptoms. These can include: 

  • Swelling in the legs and ankles
  • Tired, aching legs
  • Burning in the calf or thigh
  • Leg pain that feels better when you walk or raise your legs
  • Itchy, dry skin
  • Numbness or tingling sensation
  • Difficulty standing for long periods
  • Non-healing wounds on your legs

At USA Vein Clinics, we don’t think you should suffer from these issues any longer. If you’ve been avoiding treatment because you don’t want vein surgery, we have good news. Our vein specialists offer several minimally-invasive vein treatments, including ultrasound treatment for varicose veins.

While Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is used to treat varicose veins in the larger veins, USGS is successful at treating complex, winding branches of veins that feed into larger veins.

One of the non-surgical techniques that we use to treat varicose veins is called ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (USGS). Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about this effective ultrasound vein treatment. The bottom line? Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy can relieve painful or uncomfortable vein disease symptoms and help you take back control of your life. 

What Is Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy?

If you have vein disease, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound treatment for varicose veins called ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (USGS). This state-of-the-art vein treatment is used to address varicose veins and other symptoms of venous insufficiency. By using our advanced, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, varicose vein symptoms can be eliminated by our vascular specialists with absolute precision. 

Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is especially helpful when affected veins are deep in the tissue and not visible on the skin’s surface. It is also used to treat complex networks of problematic smaller veins that feed into large veins. Another ultrasound vein treatment that we offer, called Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), is usually recommended to treat large varicose veins. 

How Does USGS Work?

Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is used to treat moderate to severe vein disease of the lower extremities. It treats symptoms of venous insufficiency by closing malfunctioning veins from the inside. 

During USGS:

  • One of our specialized interventional radiologists uses an ultrasound to map the diseased veins and plan your treatment.
  • Next, they will inject a sclerosant solution into the affected veins.
  • This solution prompts the vessel’s blood to thicken and its walls to purposely become irritated.
  • As a result, the vein collapses and becomes sealed off from blood flow.
  • The collapsed vein’s blood flow is then diverted to your healthy, surrounding veins.
  • Over time, the diseased vein is naturally absorbed into the body, so there is no
    need to remove it.

Many of our patients are surprised by how little time this procedure involves. As an outpatient treatment, USGS usually takes under 15 minutes from start to finish. Because of the minimally invasive nature of ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, you can expect limited discomfort and no scarring. 

Once your USGS treatment is complete, the vascular specialist will place a bandage over the injection site. You will be able to drive home or return to work immediately. You can also resume light activities the same day.

How Effective Is Sclerotherapy?

Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy effectively treats small varicose veins and other symptoms that accompany vein disease. When performed by our experienced specialists, USGS has an impressive success rate of over 80 percent.

You can expect USGS to eliminate underlying venous insufficiency and halt the progression of vein disease in those veins. In some cases, however, patients require multiple treatments to fully resolve their vein problems. The number of sessions needed depends on the severity of your varicose veins. Our vascular specialists can help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for USGS. They can also inform you if you’ll require multiple treatments. 

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy at USA Vein Clinics

At USA Vein Clinics, we believe everyone deserves access to our minimally invasive vein treatments. Therefore, we offer ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy for varicose veins at state-of-the-art treatment centers across the United States. With over 90 clinics across the nation, we are conveniently located within the communities we serve. 

If you’re concerned about the cost of vein treatment, we want to put your mind at ease. Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is covered by most major health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. 

We hope that you will soon find relief from your vein disease symptoms by scheduling with us. Our specialists offer standard in-office visits or virtual telemedicine appointments. Either way, we look forward to discussing our ultrasound vein treatments with you.

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