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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)

This is one of the best medical offices that I have visited. I see doctors in the Penn and Bryn Mawr systems and this is by far much better than any of those offices. The entire staff is friendly and accommodating. Both doctors are awesome! I have recommended you to family and friends. Keep up the great work!

#12012-12-03 17:05:27

The office atmosphere: paintings, light fixtures.

#22026-03-01

Everyone is extremely nice and professional. I like the fact that the office is utilizing technology for things such as consent forms and patient information forms rather than paper. Good for the environment!

#32010-12-01 12:08:05

We liked that Dr. Ringpfeil explained everything to us and made my daugther (almost 6 yo) feel very comfortable in the office. She was very friendly, kind and professional.

#42025-09-22

The treatments that are on display in the lobby. Also, the fact that the dermatologist told me the truth about commercial face cleansers.

#52025-07-04

The doctor was very personable, she explained each procedure in detail and answered all my questions. Dr. Ringpfeil has a very pleasant and reasurring mannaer, here staff is very efficent and welcoming.

#62025-11-26

I felt the doctor really took the time to listen to me, as well as explain all of the important medical information.

#72026-03-11

staff/ambiance/cleanliness

#82026-05-10

The doctor was very explainative and very friendly and precise.

#92010-11-22 10:46:33

The medical assistant and the doctor listen and the doctor explains the procedure and different options very well and explains what to expect from different options or procedure.

#102025-09-01

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What can we do better?

(answers:373)

I wasn't aware that you can register online as a new patient. Can you guys make new patience aware

#12011-07-12 14:35:20

More upbeat music! The warm temperature and the John Mayer-esque music made me feel as if it were bedtime =)

#22011-09-16 11:42:32

cannot be improved

#32025-07-03

Cookies and Milk! Seriously, I love coming in and being seen promptly. More importantly, I like the fact that the doctor was not distracted and there was not a single interruption.

#42025-12-18

everything was great! as always nothing i can say to improve on! jill is always attentive and very thorough:)

#52010-10-27 12:20:56

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.

#62011-09-21 14:47:49

n/a

#72025-07-02

Shorter wait, but not much else.

#82025-09-07

Keep doing what you're doing.

#92025-10-17

I cant think of anything

#102025-10-09

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