What is Sclerotherapy?
It is a non-surgical treatment procedure that involves the injection of a solution into an abnormally enlarged and discolored vein, called a spider vein, causing that vein to eventually disappear.

What are spider veins?
Unlike the enlarged varicose veins, spider veins are smaller in size with a dark green or purplish discoloration. They are closer to the surface of the skin and are generally painless but unsightly. They are commonly found on the legs and face.

What causes spider veins?
Veins have valves that act as one way flaps. If the valves become weak, blood can leak back into the vein which causes pooling of blood in that vein. The vein then gets enlarged due to the pooling of the blood.
Other causes include hormonal changes, heredity, exposure to the sun, pregnancy, obesity, leg injury and prolonged standing.
Spider veins are more common among women than men.

How does sclerotherapy work?
The injected solution (called sclerosing agent) causes the vein walls to collapse and eventually disappear.

Does it hurt?
There is a temporary stinging while the medication is injected but this should be tolerable. An anesthetic solution is combined with the sclerosing solution to help alleviate the discomfort.

How soon can I go back to my normal activities?
Since this is an office procedure, there is no downtime. Therefore, the patient can go back to the usual activities after the procedure.

What are the side effects?
There will be injection-related reactions such as very localized bruising and small skin sores to red raised patches at the injection site. The patches should disappear in 3 to 5 days. The stinging disappears immediately after the procedure.

Is the desired effect permanent?
No. Since this is a gravity-related disorder, almost all spider veins tend to recur.  It should be pointed out that recurrence is NOT a complication of sclerotherapy. There is a likelihood of more spider veins to appear in time, therefore further treatments are needed. Preventive measures will be discussed by the clinician.

How much does the treatment cost?
The cost ranges from $275 to $300 and could go higher depending on the severity of the disorder.

Does insurance cover spider vein treatments?
No. Since this is categorized as a cosmetic treatment, insurance does not pay for the treatment.