I Tried Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins—Here's What You Need to Know

Approximately 85% of women—myself included—have chronic venous disease, which includes spider veins. They're those bluish, purplish lines that wend their way down the sides of the legs, or around the ankles and down to the heels, and even sometimes the face. Spider veins are largely inherited but can also be caused by pregnancy, age, obesity, and prolonged standing. While they do not typically pose any danger, I still wanted to explore removal methods. A bit of research led me to The Vein Treatment Center and to its founder, Dr. Luis Navarro, who specializes in sclerotherapy. Before I knew it, I was sitting in his office for a consultation and wondering whether it was possible to erase 12 inches of blue veins from each of my legs.

Keep scrolling to read about my experience having spider veins removed using sclerotherapy.

What Is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a great option for spider vein removal. "Sclerotherapy is a form of treatment for superficial veins in which a solution injected into the blood vessel causes damage to the lining of the vessels, which causes it to collapse and shrink," explains Camp. The solution is essentially an irritant and causes the veins to inflame and ultimately stops blood flow.

In the past, doctors stripped the offending veins, first putting patients under general anesthesia, then making cuts at the groin and the ankle and pulling out the offending veins. But nowadays, sclerotherapy is a non-invasive, in-office treatment.

The Benefits of Sclerotherapy

As mentioned earlier, some treatments for spider veins are incredibly invasive and involve lots of downtime, but sclerotherapy offers you results without the hassle. "Sclerotherapy can improve the appearance of superficial spider veins that look like bluish purple imperfections on the skin. It is a well-tolerated procedure that is safe and does not require significant downtime," says Camp.

Reduces appearance of varicose and spider veins: Sclerotherapy is super effective at reducing the appearance of unsightly veins in just a single treatment.
Relieves pain: If your spider or varicose veins are causing you pain, this treatment can help give you some relief.
Minimal side effects: Although Camp says that the site of injection might burn or feel uncomfortable, there typically aren't many side effects involved with the treatment.

How to Prepare

Before you sign up for treatments, you get a free consultation to determine how to proceed. Dr. Navarro's assistant took down my complete medical history and asked me detailed questions about my vein problems.

For the consultation, I changed into a gown and the assistant did a venous Doppler test on my legs in the front and the back at the two junctions where blood flows into the main veins and arteries of the legs. "Defective valves actually sound different," said Navarro. My veins, it turned out, are actually in good working order. After the Doppler, a few digital photos of my legs were taken. We discussed the best procedure for treating my veins: sclerotherapy.

Before you head to your appointment, you'll want to make sure you "avoid alcohol the day before treatment as it can cause increased bleeding. Avoid medications such as NSAIDs before and after treatment, as they can increase bleeding and bruising and lessen the impact of the sclerosing agent on the treated vessels. Wear shorts or loose fitting pants to the appointment so that treatment sites can be easily exposed," advises Camp.

Who is a Candidate?

If you have blue or purple spider veins that are a cosmetic concern and don't currently have any major medical concerns, you're a good candidate for sclerotherapy.

"Candidates for sclerotherapy include people with superficial blue and purple blood vessels on their skin and are concerned about their appearance. Patients who are generally healthy and are able to comply with aftercare instructions, such as wearing compression socks or stockings, are good candidates," advises Camp.

He continues, "Sclerotherapy is not recommended in patients on blood thinners or those who are trying to conceive, pregnant, or nursing."

What to Expect

The entire sclerotherapy procedure lasted about 15 minutes. Laying on my side and then on my back, Dr. Navarro injected saline all along the offending veins and at their sources.

I took a couple of Tylenol at least an hour before the treatment to help cut down the sting from the needle but I was surprised to find the 50 or so injections were less painful than laser hair removal. Many injections didn't hurt at all, but some really stung

After the injections, I experienced a bit of itchiness, which was the saline working its way through the veins. Fortunately, the itching lasted only a few minutes. The doctor moved around a lot from side to side and on my stomach so he could work on every blemish.

Aftercare

When he finished, a nurse applied ointment to the areas (which looked like mosquito bites), topped each injection site with a cotton ball, then wrapped my legs tightly with an Ace bandage. I left my appointment pleased with the convenience and pain level of the actual procedure.

I was instructed to purchase support hose at a local pharmacy, to sleep in them that night and wear them for two full days after the appointment. The support hose not only reduces swelling but keeps the solution in the veins. However, wearing them to bed the first night was admittedly unpleasant. Despite taking a sleeping pill to get some shuteye, it was still a fitful night.

Risks and Side Effects

One concern I had with sclerotherapy was the results, which are not at all guaranteed. I asked Navarro what he does that a dermatologist wouldn't do. According to Navarro, dermatologists are not well-trained in treating veins, so they may be unable to find the true cause of spider veins. "A poor sclerotherapy job may cause more veins to appear," he said.

Dr. Navarro warned me that I would develop what he calls "black and blues"—bruising that could last up to two weeks. And I did. After the injections, my legs looked just as his assistant warned, "like a construction site." I was told I had to endure the messiness knowing that the end results would be beautiful. Having that expectation helped me live through the painful period of the "black and blues."

The Results

As the days progressed, I saw amazing results. The blue veins on my left leg disappeared almost immediately. The veins on my right leg took a few treatments but also disappeared. On the final visit, Navarro popped the spots on my legs that were caused by trapped blood. This was actually a little painful because he poked the dots with a sterile needle and then squeezed out the blood.

Two weeks after my last treatment, the black and blues, and the blue veins were totally dispersed. While I ended up having a total of five treatments, the number of sessions can vary. Some patients need only a couple of sessions, while others require more than I had. Ultimately, it's dependent on how well your veins take to the treatment and how much you are willing to pay. How frequently you get the treatments depends on your personal preference.

The Cost

Like most cosmetic treatments, the cost of sclerotherapy depends on your location, potential insurance coverage, your provider, and more. That being said, the average cost of the treatment is anywhere from $300-500, and even up to $1000 depending on how much of the area is being treated and how often you need treatment.

Editor's note: The treatments at The Vein Treatment Center were given complimentary to the writer.