Spider veins are a common condition that affect many adults. A spider vein is a smaller, damaged vein that appears on the surface of legs or ankles. Typically, spider veins are not painful or harmful. However, spider veins may be an  early stage indicator for Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Otherwise known as vein disease, CVI can be detrimental to an individual’s health if proper precautions aren’t taken to treat vein conditions. 

A spider vein appears to be blue, red, or purple in color. The vein can appear as thin lines, branches, or even webs in shape. Although they don’t typically cause any pain, some individuals feel discomfort in the legs or ankles that the spider vein is located in. 

What Should I Expect During My Spider Vein Treatment Recovery?

During the procedure a very fine gauge needle is used to inject thesolution into the spider vein being treated visible signs of the treatment may be seen immediately in other cases it may take a day, or longer, for the results to be observed.  This all depends on the extent and size of the area being treated.

After treatment for a spider vein, individuals have to go through a short recovery period. Initially, we may recommend you wear compression bandages or stockings for at least two weeks after a treatment session in order to encourage proper healing and reduce the risk of blood clots. Many patients are able to return to their normal routines immediately after a sclerotherapy procedure. Strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and/or vigorous exercise are not recommended for at least two weeks after your treatment.

Although spider vein treatment is a fairly quick procedure, there is still a general timeline of recovery processes that most patients experience. 

Within One Week

During the first week of the recovery process post spider vein removal treatment, patients experience care practices including:

• Wearing a support stocking on legs for two to three weeks, or as needed.
• Minor bruising on legs where the spider veins have been treated
• Avoiding squatting, running, and heavy lifting
• Removing other used dressings from legs recommended by patient’s healthcare provider
• Frequently walking 
• Keep treated area out of direct sunlight

Following proper precautions within the first week of treatment recovery lowers the chance of any problems that occur during the entire month of recovery. 

Within One Month

Within the first month of recovery from spider vein treatment, a patient typically has experiences including:

• Diminishing bruises around the legs where vein was removed
• Resuming intensive exercises
• Significantly lighter looking veins around legs; barely visible
• Limited sitting or standing in a single place for more than one or two hours

After the one month recovery period is over, significant improvements are made overall to the treated vein site. Following the two month period, the treated veins should have completely healed. Consult our healthcare office to determine if any further treatment is needed. 

Vein Disease Treatment Before & After Photos 

Note the before and after photos showing optimal spider vein treatment results:

If you have any questions regarding  this or other  aspects of vein treatments, contact our Cinicinnati office for more information.

People Also Ask:

Here are some of the most common questions patients regularly ask their doctor before taking the next step in spider vein treatment. 

Why do I need to keep my legs out of sunlight for six weeks after sclerotherapy treatment?

Patients undergoing sclerotherapy need to keep their legs out of sunlight for six weeks.  This is because the chemical used to close the spider veins may react with sunlight causing a “staining” of the skin.  Unfortunately this staining is very persistent and often permanent. The chemical does not react to most traditional indoor lighting but should not be subjected to lighting meant for the purpose of artificial tanning.  

How many sessions does it take to remove spider veins?

Depending on the treatment used to eliminate spider veins, a patient may have to have multiple sessions for the treated area. The most common procedure for spider veins is called Sclerotherapy. 

Sclerotherapy treatment involves injecting a solution into the designated veins being treated. The solution will then irritate the inner lining of the veins. Blood flow is then blocked due to the walls of the veins closing, so the veins eventually collapse and disappear. 

Typically, Sclerotherapy sessions only last around 20 minutes. However, it is often recommended that patients attend more than one session to receive the best results. Two to four treatments will typically achieve optimal spider vein removal results. Although two to four treatments are recommended, some patients with lighter cases may achieve results from only one to two treatments. 

The number of treatments needed will vary between patients, depending on how severe of a case they have. It is often best to consult your healthcare provider with any questions you may have for spider vein treatments. 

How much does it cost to have spider veins removed?

Sclerotherapy is a cosmetic procedure and is not paid for by insurance in most cases.  Sclerotherapy fees are paid by the patient at the time of service.  Because spider veins may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, Rejuveination requires a physician examination prior to initiating treatment.  The Physician visit will be billed to insurance and is subject to the terms of your insurance policy with regards to copayment and coinsurance.  If a more serious underlying condition is suspected the Doctor may order a diagnostic ultrasound.  If a more serious underlying condition is determined, it would need to be treated before the cosmetic sclero procedure could be performed. Contact our office for further information on Sclerotherapy pricing.

Does spider vein removal really work?

Sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins is an effective treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, the success rate for sclerotherapy treatment is up to 80 percent successful in eliminating treated veins within the first treatment. 

This data does not guarantee that your first sclerotherapy treatment will completely eliminate a varicose vein or spider vein. Depending on the severity of a patient’s spider veins, it may take multiple sessions to eliminate the treated varicose veins and spider veins. In addition, there is a possibility that patients may notice a spider vein in other leg and ankle areas after their treatment is complete. 

What to expect when treating spider veins?

Every patient’s spider vein treatment procedure is different. For most, the treatment only lasts roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. Patients typically begin a session by laying on their side, while the solution is injected along the spider veins being treated.

The amount of pain during treatment is minimal if at all. After the injections are made on each treated spider vein, it is common for patients to experience a bit of irritation around the vein area. This sensation comes from the solution making its way through the spider veins. 

When finished, we will apply a dressing. Your practitioner will instruct you to wear compression socks on the leg and ankle of the affected areas. They will most likely suggest the patient to wear the compression socks on their legs for two full days and nights after the procedure. These compression socks reduce swelling around the legs and ankles. They also keep the solution in the proper veins needing to be treated. 

After treatment, the recovery process begins. Wear compression socks and follow proper procedures given by your practitioner. Doing so can ensure a healthy recovery process.