Sclerotherapy effectively treats varicose and spider veins. It’s often considered the treatment of choice for small varicose veins. In addition to diminishing the appearance of varicose or spider veins, sclerotherapy can also reduce pain or side effects caused by damaged veins.

The most common areas for varicose veins to develop are on your legs and feet. The affected veins may be raised, discolored, or swollen, and some are deeper under the skin and can cause discomfort. Spider veins are smaller in size, closer to the surface of the skin, and can appear red, purple, or blue.

Depending on the size of the damaged veins, sclerotherapy can be used to treat varicose and spider veins in the following areas:

• thighs
• calves
• ankles
• feet
• face (frequently the sides of the nose)

There is little to no downtime associated with sclerotherapy. You’ll most likely be able to return to your everyday activities immediately. If you were treated for small varicose veins or spider veins, you can usually expect to see definitive results in three to six weeks. Larger veins may require three to four months. However, multiple treatments may be needed to achieve the results you want.

Veins that respond to treatment generally don’t come back, but new veins may appear.