How to Do Self Sclerotherapy

There are fewer conditions more disfiguring than varicose veins. The unsightly, tortuous bluish snakes have led many to hide their legs with pants or jeans. For some, however, there is hope in the miraculous abilities of sclerotherapy, a procedure that injects a solution into a vein, irritating the vessel wall and causing it to form scar tissue. This minor procedure can be completed in a doctor's office. Once bandaged, a participant is sent home immediately.

Things You'll Need

• Four Needles
• Syringe
• Cotton Wool
• Sodium Chloride
• Lidocaine
• Heparin
• Surgical gown
• Compression wrap
• Sterile dressing
• Gloves
• Sterile Disinfectant (alcohol or iodine)
• Liquid Soap
• Sterile paper towels

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Instructions

How to Do Sclerotherapy

• 1

  Wash your hands and arms with liquid soap, dry them with paper towels, and then put on a surgical gown and gloves.

• 2

  Sterilize the leg by cleaning it with a disinfectant, such as alcohol or iodine, and place a sterile drape on the leg so that only the varicose vein is seen.

• 3

  Using one syringe but separate needles for each vial, draw the sodium chloride, lidocaine, and heparin.

• 4

  Stabilize the vein with your thumb to prevent movement.

• 5

  Inject the syringe contents into the vein by first pulling back on the syringe to ensure venous placement, then injecting all of its contents.

• 6

  Pull out the needle and apply pressure to the puncture site with cotton wool.

• 7

  Repeat as necessary for every inch of vein length.

• 8

  Apply a compression bandage to the area and leave in place for three to four days.