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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)

Friendliness of everyone.

#12025-09-03

the staff is terrific....

#22025-11-25

office is clean

#32011-05-02 14:47:10

filling out the patient form on the computer is excellent and much better than the paper forms usually used for doctors; extremely efficient interaction with the staff and doctor; gorgeous waiting room!

#42011-12-14 08:52:39

the music and decor of the facility

#52026-02-10

the cute scrubs:-) knowledge of the dr. and staff.

#62025-11-12

The entire staff was extremely pleasant and I appreciate being able to see the doctor on such short notice. Everything was top notch!

#72025-09-14

Time spent with doctor was longer than expected. Doctor said she liked Retin-A Micro.

#82011-03-30 10:03:23

LIKE THE WAY WAY THE EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE ,AND ALSO LIKE THE STAFF PATIENT INTERACTION.

#92012-10-09 10:22:11

Once in the examining room, I was treated professionally by both individuals whom I saw.

#102011-06-01 16:55:08

See more patient answers >>

What can we do better?

(answers:373)

My next appointment could not be scheduled for 6 weeks. I wish I could be seen sooner!

#12010-12-16 10:06:03

No room for improvement. You have a first-rate, exceptional staff Dr. Ringpfeil! Everyone especially Linda Heckman is so professional. Jessie makes a great first impression and is an asset to your team!

#22010-12-15 19:35:32

everything was fine

#32011-02-24 15:01:34

If it's not broke don't fix it...everything was handled very well

#42026-06-05

Couldn't be better!

#52026-02-05

keep doing what you did.

#62011-03-11 14:14:27

Coffee, Tea? only kidding. Hope I gave the reader a smile today.

#72011-02-21 10:56:55

Nothing, Thank you so much.