Understanding Sclerotherapy: The Gold Standard for Treating Spider and Varicose Veins

If you’ve ever looked down at your legs and noticed spider veins or small bulging varicose veins, you’re not alone. Millions of people—especially women over 30—develop visible leg veins that are not only unsightly but sometimes painful or uncomfortable. The good news? There’s an effective, minimally invasive treatment available called sclerotherapy.

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, sclerotherapy remains one of our most trusted and effective procedures for eliminating unwanted leg veins and restoring confidence. In this article, we’ll answer the question “What is sclerotherapy?” and walk you through how it works, who it helps, and what results you can expect.

What Is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical medical procedure used to treat spider veins, reticular veins, and small varicose veins. It involves injecting a specialized solution—called a sclerosant—directly into the affected veins. This solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to collapse, seal shut, and eventually be reabsorbed by the body.

The treated vein fades over time, and blood naturally reroutes to healthier nearby veins. Most patients see significant improvement in both the appearance of their veins and the symptoms they may be causing.

Conditions Treated with Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is highly effective for a range of superficial vein issues, including:

• Spider veins (tiny red, blue, or purple web-like veins)
• Reticular veins (larger blue-green veins under the skin)
• Small varicose veins (bulging, twisted veins close to the skin’s surface)
• Residual veins after vein ablation
• Vein-related symptoms, such as aching, burning, swelling, itching, nocturnal leg cramping, restless legs, venous stasis ulcers, and leg heaviness

It is primarily used on the legs, but can also be used for veins on the hands, face, chest, or feet in select cases.

How Does Sclerotherapy Work?

The key to sclerotherapy is the sclerosant, which is injected into the affected vein using a fine needle. There are different types of sclerosants, including:

• Hypertonic saline (a salt solution)(some providers use this if they only do sclerotherapy on occasion)
• Polidocanol (a widely used detergent sclerosant)
• Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, we use FDA-approved sclerosants tailored to your vein type and size for maximum safety and effectiveness.

Once injected:

1. The sclerosant irritates the inner wall of the vein.
2. The vein collapses and seals shut as scar tissue forms within the channel.
3. The body gradually absorbs the treated vein, clearing it away naturally over 6-8 months.

This technique works well on any vein but is intended for use on non-functioning veins, where blood is pooling or leaking backward (venous reflux).

What to Expect During a Sclerotherapy Appointment

Sclerotherapy is an in-office procedure that typically takes 30 minutes, depending on how many veins are treated. Here’s what a typical session looks like:

Before the Procedure:

• You’ll have a vein consultation which includes a quick ultrasound evaluation (you cannot fix what you cannot see).
• Avoid lotion, oil, or moisturizer on your legs the day of treatment.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing and bring thigh high compression stockings to wear afterward.

During the Procedure:

• Your provider cleans the treatment area and uses a tiny needle to inject the sclerosant.
• You may feel a mild burning, tingling, or cramping during the injection, especially for larger veins.
• Multiple veins can be treated in one session.
• In some cases, ultrasound guidance is used for deeper or feeder veins.

After the Procedure:

• You’ll be asked to wear compression stockings for several days.
• Avoid heavy exercise, hot baths, saunas, and sun exposure for 1–2 weeks.
• You can walk immediately and return to most daily activities the same day.

Benefits of Sclerotherapy

✅ Minimally Invasive

No surgery, no downtime, and no general anesthesia needed.

✅ Highly Effective

Success rates are over 80–90% for properly selected veins.

✅ Cosmetic and Symptomatic Relief

Improves both the appearance and symptoms of problematic veins.

✅ Fast Recovery

Most people resume work and normal activities immediately after treatment.

✅ Long-Term Results

Treated veins do not return. New veins can form, but are often smaller and easily treatable.

How Many Treatments Will You Need?

While some veins respond after just one treatment, most patients require a series of 2 to 4 sessions spaced 2-3 weeks apart for optimal results. Factors influencing treatment needs include:

• The number and size of veins
• The type of sclerosant used
• Your circulation and vein health
• How your body responds to treatment

For best long-term outcomes, ongoing vein health maintenance and compression therapy is recommended since vein issues are often an inherited trait.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is ideal for most healthy adults with visible leg veins or related symptoms. You may be a good candidate if:

• You have spider veins or reticular veins
• You experience aching, heaviness, swelling, or itching
• You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• You can wear compression stockings post-treatment

A full evaluation, including a vein ultrasound, can help determine if sclerotherapy or another vein procedure is right for you. If the initial ultrasound suggests deep vein issues, those deeper veins should be addressed before any surface veins are treated with sclerotherapy

Are There Side Effects or Risks?

Sclerotherapy is very safe when performed by a trained provider. However, potential side effects include:

• Mild bruising or swelling
• Itching or slight burning at injection sites
• Temporary darkening of the vein (hyperpigmentation)
• Matting (fine red vessels near the treated area)
• Rare complications: allergic reaction, small ulcers, or superficial clotting

These usually resolve over days to weeks to months. Following post-care instructions dramatically reduces the risk of side effects.

Sclerotherapy vs. Other Vein Treatments

Treatment Type Best For Invasiveness Recovery Time:

‍Sclerotherapy is best for treating Spider veins, reticular veins, and small varicose veins with minimal invasiveness and no downtimeMinimal

‍Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) is best for treating the great saphenous vein or small saphenous vein. This is minimally invasive and requires minimal downtime. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is best for treating the great Saphenous vein or small saphenous vein with minimal invasiveness and minimal downtime. (equivalent to EVLA)

Vein Stripping (also called phlebectomy). Used on Bulky varicosities, is invasive and requires 1+ week of downtime. High1+ week

Sclerotherapy is often the gold standard in first-line treatment for smaller veins and cosmetic concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is sclerotherapy painful?

Most people feel minimal discomfort. A brief stinging or burning sensation may occur, especially in larger veins.

Q: How soon will I see results?

You may begin to notice improvement within 1-2 weeks, with full results developing over 6–12 weeks, but most people require a series of 2-4 treatments depending on the severity or quantity of veins that require treatment.

Q: Will the veins come back?

Treated veins are permanently closed, but new veins may form over time. Annual maintenance treatments are common.

Final Thoughts: Why Choose Sclerotherapy?

If you’re frustrated by the appearance of spider veins or tired of aching, heavy legs, sclerotherapy offers a safe, effective, and lasting solution. It’s fast, minimally invasive, and backed by decades of clinical use and success.

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, our team specializes in advanced vein care, offering sclerotherapy alongside ultrasound-guided treatments and laser therapy for comprehensive vein health.

Ready to reclaim smooth, vein-free legs?
Book your sclerotherapy consultation today and let us help you walk confidently—one vein at a time.

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