Considering Cosmetic Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins? Here's What You Should Know

Summer's almost here, and if you're feeling a little self-conscious about spider veins, you're not alone! It's tempting to jump on those online deals for cosmetic sclerotherapy, but before you click "buy," there are a few important things to understand.

While those coupon deals can be great, they're typically only beneficial if you don't have underlying chronic venous insufficiency. Many patients who initially seek treatment for purely cosmetic concerns often discover there's more to their veins than meets the eye.

It's common to see not just spider veins, but also varicose and reticular veins clustered in the same area. What's more, many people don't realize that symptoms they've been experiencing—like aching, swelling, heaviness, or restless legs—could be related to underlying vein disease.

Think of spider veins as just the tip of the iceberg. Treating only them offers a temporary fix, much like placing a band-aid over a bleeding skin cancer.

For long-lasting results, it's crucial to address the root cause: any high pressure from underlying refluxing trunk veins needs to be shut down first. Once those larger, problematic veins are taken care of, then the varicose and reticular veins can be treated, followed by the spider veins.

For thicker, more prominent spider veins, a combination of foam and liquid cosmetic sclerotherapy is often used. If, after several sessions (typically 1-3 months apart), you still have some residual veins, laser therapy can be an option.

The good news is that with proper assessment and treatment, patient satisfaction rates are very high. In fact, over the last five years and more than 4,000 cases who underwent both medical and cosmetic therapy under my care, 99.9% of patients undergoing cosmetic sclerotherapy for spider veins were satisfied with their results without needing additional laser cosmetic treatment.

In summary, unless there is no underlying chronic venous issue, cosmetic sclerotherapy alone will not produce long-lasting results. For permanent results, the pressurized trunk vein should be controlled first medically.