Sclerotherapy: Stories

I have spider veins and one slightly bumpy pre-varicose vein. During the first session, I had my entire legs injected (approximately 20 injections) where the veins showed, and the doctor also injected a vein behind my knee he said was 'pre-varicose'. The result was that there was NO improvement, and at some of the injection sights I had NEW burst capillaries from the needle. I knew that one session might not elimate all of my spider veins so I went back for more. After the second session I also saw very minimal results, so I went back again. Again, very minimal results so I went back a FOURTH time just to get one particularly noticable patch treated as that was the one area that bothered me. This time, I was left with huge and painful blisters at the injection site that were like 2nd degree burns. The blisters burst and one of them became slightly ulcerated. That was 3 months ago. Now the spider veins in the area are worse (darker, and more of them)AND I have red marks from the blisters that may not entirely fade. I wish I had never done this. I need to do something to address the problem, which is worse than I had originally, so I will try a different doctor and perhaps a new injectable solution or laser.

I went back in March for a follow up, as I had spent a lot of money on this doctor and got no results (except that my legs looked worse). I was hoping he would maybe try a different approach- I know there is a new solution out now, or maybe a laser. He dismissed this idea and just gave me more injections in the same area which didn't do a thing. Now I've had five sessions and no results.

The 'average price' they have listed for sclerotherapy is way, way off. I went to the Vein Center in NY after the terrible results I got at Schulman Vein Center. They gave me a thorough exam, including an ultrasound of my veins to make sure everything was ok and the only issue was spider veins. During my consultation the doctor said that the 'articulated veins' (the blue veins under my skin, NOT varicose veins, that I thought were just visible because my skin is so pale) need to be taken care of first or the spider veins will keep coming back. This was NOT done at the Schulman center, even though I asked him about that very thing more than once. He said "oh I already did those". Dr. Navarro at the Vein Center told me to expect to undergo several sessions, he said it could not be done in 1 or 2 sessions. Mind you, my veins are not that dramatically bad, but bad enough to make me self concious, especially one cluster on my left thigh. Well the sessions are $500 a pop (40 injections given per session). I guess I should start and expect to pay at least $3,000 or $4,000 dollars before there is significant change, but I do not have that kind of money to spend. It's outrageous. Maybe I should travel to another city where I can get this done more reasonably. For now I am unhappily wearing cover up makeup on my legs when I go to the beach.