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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)

Office ambiance and the how attentive everyone is in the office.

#12025-05-27

They were the first attentive people in the medical field I've encountered in a while. Quick and EFFICIENT visit- I appreciated everything!!!!!

#22025-04-29

Did not have to wait at all. Other places I would wait 4 hours or more.

#32010-11-10 08:57:14

I did not have to wait to be seen at all. From the start of my visit until I walked out the door the doctor & staff were very professional & took the tim to answer my questions and listen to me also. I have been seen by other dermatologist and I was defibately impressed here.+++A+++ Higly recommended.

#42025-05-06

Everyone was very attentive and I didn't feel rushed. Soothing atmosphere and even the temperature in the office and waiting room was perfect! The doctor exceeded my expectations - wonderful experience!

#52011-06-02 11:41:01

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!

#62025-11-11

Every aspect was oustanding, most importantly the expertise of the physician.

#72025-06-05

Very impressed by the Doctor and staff.

#82025-12-09

not a crowded office

#92026-04-09

Excellent service, did not have to wait long to be seen!

#102025-09-18

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What can we do better?

(answers:373)

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

#12025-11-27

Service was extremely good.

#22011-01-27 16:47:12

keep on doing excellent customer service skills

#32025-10-10

Service was great, wouldn't change a thing.

#42010-10-06 09:19:36

Foodcoffe

#52026-02-08

Can't think of a thing. I was very impressed.

#62010-09-27 14:45:03

The restroom could be cleaner.

#72011-01-19 08:56:51

Overall excellent service. Friendly front desk staff. A very small suggestion would be to have someone immediately identify themselves as the person to register a new patient and direct where to go when someone enters the waiting room. With a big waiting room and three people at the front desk, it is a lot to take in and not know to whom to speak. Having had negative experiences with doctors' receptionists where all three of the three people at the front desk have ignored me until I called out and forced a response, I am sensitive to the issue and imagine others have had this experience as well.

#82011-01-31 10:42:48

Everything was great!

#92011-02-17 17:11:54

n/a

#102026-02-04

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