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Sclerotherapy

Overview:

Sclerotherapy is a technique designed to shut down unsightly spider veins on legs, thighs, face or other body areas. Several substances can be injected to cause this effect. While providing identical results and downtime, detergents/foaming agents are generally considered painless while hypertonic saline injections are uncomfortable.

Sclerotherapy is used for the treatment of larger spider veins. It is often followed by several sclerolaser treatments which resolve extremely fine vessels that did not take to sclerotherapy.

Expected results:

Seventy percent reduction of spider veins after a series of treatments.

Preparation:

Avoidance of aspirin and ibuprofen for 10 days. Depending on the examination, ultrasound may be necessary to exclude reflux, which may hamper treatment success. If reflux is detected, a consultation with a vascular surgeon may be necessary to remove underlying varicosities.

Post treatment instructions:

Compression stockings 20-30 mmHg or higher for 6 weeks, sun avoidance for 3 months, avoidance of aspirin and ibuprofen for 3 days.

Time to desired results:

The reduction of spider veins can be seen 6 to 8 weeks after each treatment on the lower extremity; facial veins and those on the trunk usually respond faster.

Duration of desired effects:

5-7 years. After this time, our body will form new vessels, especially in genetically determined spider veins.

Limitations:

We do not perform treatments to veins on hands or on the upper or lower eyelids. Ankle veins are challenging to treat.

Contraindications:

History of bleeding or clotting disorders, diabetes, certain auto-immune disorders, pregnancy/breastfeeding, allergy to Sotrodecol or Polidocanol.

Downtime:

Up to 3 months of bruising or hyperpigmentation.

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Selected Patient Questions and Answers

Sclerotherapy - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers

Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Sclerotherapy or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.

# of surveys: 4187
Last updated: 1/02/2024 11:10 AM

PATIENT RATINGS

Would you recommend us?

definitely: 93.1%
probably: 6.16%
maybe: 0.58%
not likely: 0.08%
no: 0.02%

Compare our service to other similar practices

excellent: 87.9%
very good: 10.1%
good: 1.8%
poor: 0.06%
very poor: 0%

Overall doctor performance

excellent: 94.2%
very good: 4.89%
good: 0.80%
poor: 0.03%
very poor: 0%

The doctor listened to you attentively

excellent: 93.9%
very good: 4.97%
good: 1.05%
poor: 0.05%
very poor: 0%

The doctor took time to answer your questions

excellent: 94.0%
very good: 4.66%
good: 1.27%
poor: 0.02%
very poor: 0%

The doctor explained treatment options

excellent: 94.3%
very good: 4.16%
good: 1.25%
poor: 0.14%
very poor: 0.02%

The doctor explained treatment options

excellent: 92.0%
very good: 5.69%
good: 2.18%
poor: 0.11%
very poor: 0.0%

Front desk performance

excellent: 85.6%
very good: 10.2%
good: 3.66%
poor: 0.31%
very poor: 0.08%

Aesthetician performance

excellent: 88.6%
very good: 7.61%
good: 3.39%
poor: 0.24%
very poor: 0.08%

Office comfort

excellent: 90.9%
very good: 6.93%
good: 2.08%
poor: 0.05%
very poor: 0.05%

Parking

excellent: 66.4%
very good: 14.4%
good: 15.7%
poor: 2.49%
very poor: 0.9%

Friendliness of the staff during appointment

excellent: 90.9%
very good: 7.23%
good: 1.85%
poor: 0.05%
very poor: 0%

What WE DID WELL

(Answers:674)

I was very pleased with the service that was provided during my visit. No waiting, excellent service, thorough exam. Overall, it was a pleasure - not usually the case with most doctor's visits these days!

#12025-07-05

Everything was good. I like this place.

#22026-03-11

Friendliness of the satt and theri attentiveness. Also thoroughness of the questions

#32025-12-17

The time the Doctor spent talking to me about my problem. She did not rush.

#42011-12-15 12:54:52

The Medical Assistant, Doctor and Receptionist were very helpful and fast. Best doctors appointment I've ever had!

#52025-10-11

The doctor and physicians assistant were both very professional and knowledgeable.

#62025-08-18

The ambiance, staff and physician

#72025-11-03

interaction with staff

#82026-01-20

Comfortable visit in a professional, reassuring, pleasant environment.

#92025-07-31

colors and plants

#102010-12-13 11:23:03

See more patient answers >>

What can we do better?

(answers:373)

I recommended this practice to a family member but they showed up 15 mins late to their first appt. due to traffic and were turned away (after traveling over an hour to get here). I would suggest on the first visit to allow more leeway for late appointments (try to fit them in) and then explain the late policy for all appointments moving forward.

#12011-09-21 14:47:49

The service is wonderful nothing needs to be changed.

#22025-11-24

There was some wait between my initial interview with the medical assistantand my meeting the physician. This wait could have been shorter.

#32026-04-21

My first time experience was great and there are no improvements that I can suggest at this time.

#42026-02-23

Everything was very clean and I cannot think of much you could do better.

#52025-07-07

I thought that consideration could have been made re: pricing of skin tag removal since I only had one tag removed.

#62025-08-02

Ask patient if they have any pain before asking them to waiting three weeks for appointment