The gold standard for spider veins is sclerotherapy, not laser. Sclerotherapy is an effective procedure where a solution is injected into the vein and causes the vein to close and disappear.
What is sclerotherapy?
Using a tiny needle, a sclerosing solution called Asclera is injected into your spider veins, causing them to collapse and eventually fade within several weeks. Patients describe the sensation as mild stinging and cramping but the discomfort is well tolerated. Mild temporary bruising may occur after the treatments. A rare side effect is hyperpigmentation, which usually resolves eventually over months.
What is the downtime with sclerotherapy?
Compression stockings need to be worn 24 hours a day for 2 days and then during the day for 1 week after your treatment. Otherwise, patients can resume normal activity immediately after the treatment. We recommend sclerotherapy performed in the fall, winter, or spring.
When do I see results?
Although improvement may be seen within days of treatment, maximal results are seen 2 months later.
How many treatments will I need?
Although improvements are seen even after the first treatment, most patients will require three treatments, spaced 6 weeks apart. Some patients with many spider veins may require even more treatments.
