Asclera: What You Need to Know

Written byChris EllisUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byChris EllisUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts


Asclera (Page Image)
Asclera (Page Image)

Asclera is a prescription medicine that’s injected into veins in a minimally invasive procedure called sclerotherapy. 

Administered only by a healthcare provider, Asclera is a sclerosing agent, meaning it damages the endothelium, the lining of blood vessels. Eventually, the blood vessel clots with platelets, cellular debris, tissue. It closes up while the blood gets rerouted to healthy veins.

Asclera is FDA-approved to treat two types of veins: small, uncomplicated spider veins and small varicose veins (aka reticular veins), which tend to be larger. Both are common in the lower extremities, like the legs and ankles. 

A clinical trial found Asclera to deliver higher patient satisfaction than treatment with sodium tetradecyl sulphate, another common sclerosing agent. 

RealSelf members who rated Asclera “Worth It” reported only mild pain during treatment and excellent results. If you’re concerned about pain, an adrenaline-free local anesthetic can be injected first.

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Pros

  • Asclera is a minimally invasive treatment, with consistent results. 
  • It can boost confidence in showing your legs and reduce the discomfort that can come with varicose veins. 

Cons

  • For some people, the treatment can be painful. 
  • You’ll have some restrictions on exercise and other activities for a week following your treatment.

The price you pay will depend on your provider's level of experience, their practice location, how many veins you have treated, and how many treatment sessions you need.

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An Asclera session typically lasts 15–45 minutes, depending on the number and size of veins you're having treated. 

Usually, one injection is given per inch of vein, so you can expect to have multiple injections per session. Your provider may dilute the medication with a saline solution, depending on your specific case.

You may also need several treatment sessions, spaced one to two weeks apart, for optimal results.

After your procedure, you’ll need to wear compression stockings continuously for two to three days (for spider veins) or five to seven days (for reticular veins). 

Your doctor may recommend that you wear support hose only during the day for two to three weeks after that, depending on the severity of the veins treated. If you had extensive varicosities and multiple veins were treated, you may need to wear them for even longer.

It’s important to walk for 15 to 20 minutes immediately following treatment—and once daily for several days after. 

However, heavy exercise should be avoided for the first week, along with sunbathing or prolonged exposure to sunlight, long plane flights, and hot baths or saunas.

Results are permanent, once the treated veins are fully filled in with new tissue. 

That said, vein formation is hereditary, and new veins can appear in the same area over time.

Rarely, the injection can leak, causing patients to develop small ulcers form under the skin at the injection site. These ulcers will heal, but they may leave a scar. 

Discoloration at the surface of the skin is also a potential side effect.

Avoid Asclera if you have acute venous insufficiency or blood clotting (thromboembolic) disease, have a history of deep vein thrombosis, are pregnant or nursing, or have polidocanol allergies. 

Severe allergic reactions have been reported, including some fatal incidents of anaphylaxis. If you have a history of severe allergies, talk to your provider about alternatives.

Aside from these rare complications, there are no known long-term side effects or health risks associated with Asclera.

Asclera is only available through and administered by healthcare providers, such as vascular surgeons.

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Updated June 13, 2023

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