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Sclerotherapy for veins
sclerotherapy · spider vein treatment · vein injections · foam sclerotherapy
The doctor injects medicine into an enlarged vein with a thin needle. The vein seals shut and fades over time.
For spider veins and small varicose veins on the legs.
⏱ Duration: a session usually takes 15 to 40 minutes; several sessions are usually needed
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Tests. A leg vein ultrasound is usually done before the procedure.
- Stockings. Buy compression stockings in the right size in advance. They go on right after the procedure. Your doctor will tell you the strength.
- Skin. Do not put cream on your legs that day. Avoid tanning before the course.
What to bring
- Your referral and vein ultrasound
- Compression stockings
- Comfortable shoes and loose trousers
How it goes
- You lie on the couch
- The skin is wiped with antiseptic
- The doctor makes several injections into the veins with a thin needle
- Sometimes the medicine is given as a foam, guided by ultrasound
- The injection sites are covered, and a compression stocking is put on
- Right after, you are asked to walk for 20 to 30 minutes
What you'll feel
- Brief pricks, sometimes burning
- Later, an ache along the vein
Afterwards
- Wear the stockings for as long as your doctor said
- Walk every day and avoid sitting for long
- No saunas, hot baths, or tanning for a few weeks
- Bruises and dark streaks along the veins can happen and fade slowly
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Severe pain, swelling, and heat in the leg
- Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain: call emergency services
- Redness and a small sore at an injection site
Common questions
How many sessions are needed?
Usually several, a few weeks apart. It depends on your veins. Your doctor will say.
Will the veins come back?
Treated veins go away, but new ones can appear. Exercise and stockings, as your doctor advises, help.