What is sclerotherapy?

Someone may have offered you sclerotherapy for a leg vein, and you want to know what it is before you agree to anything.

Sclerotherapy in one sentence

my.clevelandclinic.org says sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into varicose or spider veins. That is the definition at its simplest: a treatment for varicose or spider veins, delivered by injection.

What a definition leaves out

A definition does not tell you whether the vein on your leg is one this treatment fits. That judgment comes from an examination, not from a web page. For wider background, read the overview of venous disease and the guide to varicose vein symptoms, causes and treatment.

Questions to bring to the visit

Ask which vein the clinician plans to treat and why. Ask what they found on examination that points to this treatment, and what the other options are for your leg. A reader in Mokena should expect the same clear answers.

One thing to watch for

A treatment name is easy to repeat. A clear reason for choosing it for your leg is what to look for before you agree.