Spider Vein Treatment – Sclerotherapy

Sometimes, spider veins can also be caused by an underlying venous condition. Especially if you frequently 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 incompletely closing vein valves or varicose veins are present simultaneously, these should be treated first, as otherwise, the spider veins may recur. In this case, a vein specialist is the right person to consult.

Spider veins are small, bluish, dilated vessels shimmering under the skin. Varicose veins are thick, string-of-pearls-like dilated superficial veins. Unlike spider veins, varicose veins are not just an aesthetic problem but are also detrimental to the entire venous system.

You will feel small pricks 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 reappear and initially look even darker than before the sclerotherapy. This is a sign of the inflammation occurring inside the vessels. This leads to the adhesion of the vessel walls. After blood no longer flows through the dilated vessel, the now closed spider vein is broken down by the body’s own defense system within a few weeks.

If the spider veins are not caused by an underlying venous condition, they are solely a cosmetic issue. This means they do not harm your health. The only reason to remove them is if you find them aesthetically disturbing. It is not true that a small spider vein can later turn into a varicose vein if left untreated.

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

After foam sclerotherapy of spider veins, the treated body areas should not be exposed to the sun under any circumstances, as this can lead to the formation of dark spots. For this reason, the treatment should be carried out during the cold season.

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

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

After spider vein treatment, you should absolutely avoid sun exposure to prevent pigmentation disorders. Heat applications such as saunas or steam baths should also be avoided for several weeks.

After the removal of spider veins, you need to be patient for about 6 weeks until you see the final result.

Since foam sclerotherapy of spider veins is purely an 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 have a predisposition, spider veins can unfortunately always come back, even if they have been sclerosed before.

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

To achieve optimal results, you should wear the compression stockings all the time for 4 days and then during the day for 2 weeks when standing or sitting for extended periods.

Unfortunately, spider veins can come back after sclerotherapy if you have a predisposition for them. In such a case, the treatment can be repeated without any problems.

In rare cases, small bruises may occur, which will soon disappear. In the days following the treatment, the freshly sclerosed spider veins can be seen as dark purple-bluish lines under the skin. Some patients may feel a slight tingling sensation in the first few days after treatment, which soon subsides.

The reason for this is, on the one hand, that during pregnancy, the increased estrogen causes the connective tissue to loosen, making room for the baby and preparing the body for birth.

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

Particularly bad is standing or sitting for long periods with crossed legs. This prevents blood circulation and causes blood to accumulate in the veins.

There is no sport that will make spider veins disappear. However, exercise can often prevent or at least slow down the appearance of new spider veins. Water sports are particularly suitable. Here, not only are the muscles exercised, but the venous and lymphatic systems of the legs are also optimally supported by the surrounding water pressure.

Unfortunately, the miracle cures against spider veins often advertised on the internet with many 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 real therapeutic methods.

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