How Soon Should I See Results After Sclerotherapy?

Laser and dermatologic surgeons have been trying to develop lasers to treat leg veins for over 25 years. Lasers sound scientific and sexy but they have never and will never replace or improve upon the results of properly performed sclerotherapy.

Yes, sclerotherapy uses a needle and injects a medicine into the vein. But the newer FDA-approved solutions like Sotradecol™ and Asclera™ are virtually painless and the needles used at the size of a hair. Lasers are VERY expensive and hurt MUCH MORE than injections. Some doctors still use hypertomic saline for the injection and that is VERY painful. I would advise seeing a doctor who ONLY uses FDA-approved sclerotherapy solutions (Saline is only approved to induce abortions!)

While I treat over 500 leg vein patients each year and have over 30 diferent lasers in my office, I only use a laser maybe 5 times a year for leg veins. When I choose to use a laser, it is to clean up any tiny veins that have not responded to sclerotherapy.

After having spider veins treated, an inflammatory process will take place, the veins will first swell a little bit and be slightly raised on the skin. You will also notice some redness around those veins that were injected. This usually will ease up after the first day or so. After that, you’ll notice that the veins are still very distinct and then they will start to fade after the first 2 to 3 weeks. Depending on the size of the veins, full resolution may take anywhere between two months and six months. Rare cases may even take longer. After treating a particular area of spider vein‘s, hopefully around  80% of those veins will go away. Most patients require a second treatment for each area to touch up any residual veins. 

Majority of patients seeking vein treatment need atleast three treatments, typically 3-6 weeks apart. Every patient is different but it is generally safe to say that most patients continue to see improvement for two or three months after their last treatment. It is important you see a board-certified dermatologist or an expert in sclerotherapy to ensure you avoid any complications and can start seeing results as soon as possible!

It may take 2-3 sclerotherapy treatments or possibly more depending on the individual to see best results.  Often times the most improvement is seen after the first treatment. 

Despite the advent of lasers, sclerotherapy, or the injection of a sclerosing solution to close off unwanted and superfluous spider veins on the legs, is still considered the method of choice. The appearance of one new laser after another, each one supposedly superceding the previous type, is implicit testimony to the fact that laser technology in this (as in many other skin treatment) has hardly been perfected yet

On the other hand, sclerotherapy has stood the test of time, with decades of proven efficacy, and yields fairly consisent and gratifying cosmetic results. Various sclerosing materials are currently available, and the particular one chosen will depend upon the specific areas needing treatment and the experience of the injector. Typically, for best results, two to four treatment sessions are needed per treatment site spaced at monthly intervals. Fees for each treatment may vary from $350-$750/session, depending upon the material used and the size of the area treated.