Injections The following description does not apply to foam sclerotherapy. Injections of irritant chemicals into varicose veins to close them off has been used for many years and although not in vogue in the United Kingdom is still used extensively in Europe. Injections are quick and usually painless but do not work as effectively as surgery. Most people having injection treatment will need further treatment within 5 years. You have to wear support stockings or bandages for 2 weeks following each injection session and may need up to 3 sessions in succession. Injections can have side effects: your skin can become discoloured and this can take a long time to recover. Inadvertent injection into arteries can lead to serious ulceration. Bruising is common but does not last long. Blood clots are common and can cause sore lumps but these can be dealt with fairly easily by squeezing them out through a small needle puncture like a zit. Some patients are allergic to the chemical but this is rarely serious. Despite, or perhaps, because of the fact that injections have been used for so long there has been little good research on their value. It has been shown that most people having injection therapy need another treatment within 5 years and that surgery is a more effective treatment with less recurrence.