Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to eliminate varicose veins and "spider veins". Sclerotherapy involves an injection of a solution (such as sodium chloride, a salt solution, or sotradecol, a detergent) directly into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel, causing it to swell and stick together, and the blood to clot. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view. Sclerotherapy is a well-proven procedure and has been in use since the 1840's.
How is sclerotherapy done?
In most cases, the sclerosing solution is injected through a very fine needle directly into the vein.