Spider Vein Treatment – Sclerotherapy

Sometimes spider veins are also caused by an additional underlying vein condition. Especially if you often suffer from heavy and swollen legs, an ultrasound examination of the leg veins is recommended to rule out an underlying venous disease. If venous insufficiency with valves that do not close completely or varicose veins are present at the same time, these should be treated first, otherwise spider veins may recur. In this case, a vein specialist is the right person to see.

Spider veins are small dilated vessels that shimmer bluish under the skin. Varicose veins are thick, bead-like dilated superficial veins. Unlike spider veins, varicose veins are not only an aesthetic issue—they are also harmful to the entire venous system.

You may feel small pinpricks and a burning sensation, but overall foam sclerotherapy for spider veins is not very painful.

No. While the spider veins disappear immediately when the solution is injected, they then come back and initially look even darker than before sclerotherapy. This is a sign of the inflammation taking place inside the vessels. This causes the vessel walls to stick together. Once no blood flows through the dilated vessel anymore, the now-closed spider vein is broken down by the body’s own immune system within a few weeks.

If there is no deeper underlying vein condition, spider veins are purely a cosmetic issue. That means they do not harm your health. The only reason to remove them is if you find them aesthetically bothersome. It is not true that a small spider vein can later turn into a varicose vein if it is not treated.

However, you should clarify whether the spider veins are not a sign of a more serious additional venous disease—especially if you suffer from heavy legs, leg swelling, or skin changes around the ankles.

After foam sclerotherapy for spider veins, the treated areas must not be exposed to the sun under any circumstances, as this can lead to dark spots. For this reason, it’s best to have the treatment done during the colder months.

In addition, after spider vein treatment you need to wear compression stockings for two weeks, which is very uncomfortable in summer.

(A small tip for compression stockings: I recommend that my patients buy compression stockings in black or dark grey instead of beige or white, as they are less noticeable and more suitable for everyday wear.)

After spider vein treatment, you should definitely avoid the sun to prevent pigmentation issues. Heat applications such as sauna or steam baths should also be avoided for a few weeks.

After spider vein removal, you’ll need about 6 weeks of patience before you can see the final result.

Since foam sclerotherapy for spider veins is a purely aesthetic treatment, the costs are not covered by health insurance.

Sometimes not all spider veins disappear after just one treatment, so a second session may be necessary. You should also keep in mind that if you are predisposed, spider veins can unfortunately keep coming back even if they have been sclerosed before.

Light sports such as jogging, cycling, walking, or swimming are allowed about two to three days after spider vein removal.

For the best results, you should wear the compression stockings continuously for 4 days and then during the day for 2 weeks when standing or sitting for long periods.

Unfortunately, spider veins can come back after sclerotherapy if you are predisposed. In that case, the treatment can be repeated without any problems.

In rare cases, a few small bruises may occur, which soon fade again. In the days after treatment, the freshly sclerosed spider veins can be seen as dark violet-bluish lines under the skin. Some patients feel a slight tingling in the first few days after treatment, but this soon subsides.

One reason is that during pregnancy, increased estrogen makes the connective tissue looser to make room for the baby and prepare the body for birth.

No, spider veins do not serve an important function for blood transport, so it is not a problem for the body if they are closed with foam sclerotherapy.

Prolonged standing or sitting with your legs crossed is particularly bad. This prevents blood circulation and causes blood to pool in the veins.

There is no sport that makes spider veins disappear. But exercise can often prevent new spider veins from appearing, or at least slow it down. Water sports are especially beneficial. They not only work the muscles, but the surrounding water pressure also provides optimal support for the veins and lymphatic system in the legs.

Unfortunately, the miracle cures for spider veins that are often advertised online with lots of promises are not effective and only cost a lot of money. If you really want to remove your spider veins, only foam sclerotherapy or laser treatment are truly effective treatment methods.

You can leave the clinic immediately after foam sclerotherapy. Right after the treatment, you put on the compression stockings. After that, you can return to your usual daily activities.