rad@ringpfeildermatology.com 610.525.5250

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)

Information provided by doctor.

#12026-02-24

Doctor was very direct and specific on probable course of treatment and potential effectiveness.

#22025-11-19

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.

#32025-11-05

knowledge and friendly

#42025-09-26

Everyone was very pleasant and I very much appreciated the fact that there was no waiting for either the medical assistant or the doctor. Thank you!

#52025-08-22

I liked that the doctor was well informed about the proper medicines to help me with my acne, and also was well informed about my medical condition, and was able to prescribe medication to help both!

#62025-08-28

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

#72025-08-05

I came here because my previous doctor's staff was not friendly or helpful. I am very glad I switched. Everyone here has been very nice and professional

#82025-12-09

Friendliness of office staff and professionalism of doctor.

#92011-01-17 16:36:22

Novel use of computers

#102026-05-27

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What can we do better?

(answers:373)

Its hard to find anything that you guys didn't do correct. Keep up the good work

#12011-08-03 11:52:57

Keep doing what you are doing now..make sure no one slips, then I will make sure I write about it.

#22026-01-13

before prescribing a very expensive treatment, inform the patient you are doing so.

#32025-08-13

Keep it up!

#42026-02-28

Can not be better!

#52011-04-05 09:29:32

This was a great experience and I would not change anything

#62025-07-11

I had problems with my insurance. Since you took my insurance information over the phone it might have been nice to know that before I came in so I could have fixed it.

#72011-05-19 10:14:50

Hard to say, this was a short visit and the service and treatment, as far as I can tell, were excellent

#82026-03-03

frankly, everything was excellent

#92011-08-01 16:26:25

Nothing, my visit was great.

#102025-07-27

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