Body, sweat and veins / TREATMENT GUIDE
Sclerotherapy (leg veins)
A solution injected into spider or small varicose veins irritates the lining so the vein collapses and fades. The standard treatment for leg veins.
- Appointment
- 15 to 45 minutes
- Typical social recovery
- Usually minimal
- When results may appear
- 3 to 6 weeks
- How long they may last
- Years for treated veins; new ones can appear
- Typical course
- 2 to 4
- Relative cost
- $ · Moderate relative cost
Ranges vary by person, product, area and technique. Cost symbols are editorial comparisons—not quotes. Ask for the full course and follow-up cost.
How it works
The vein wall scars shut and blood reroutes to healthy veins. The body absorbs the closed vein over weeks. Compression stockings improve the result.
Four illustrative steps. Select a step to highlight it; the optional anatomy view explains the same mechanism.
Recovery, in practical terms
Compression stockings for 1 to 2 weeks; walking is encouraged.
What it can feel like: Mild. Stinging or cramping.
What people discuss
Spider veins and small reticular veins on the legs.
Reasons to pause
Pregnancy, a clotting history, larger varicose veins that need a scan first.
This list is not exhaustive. A clinician must assess your health, medications, skin and goals.
Risks worth understanding
- Bruising
- Brown staining that can take months to fade
- Rare clot or ulcer
Ask your clinician
- Do I need an ultrasound scan first?
- Will I get staining?
Sources, approval context & editorial limits
Authorization is specific to the device, product and body area.
Sources support regulatory and safety context; not every efficacy claim or range has been independently verified.
Educational information, not medical advice or a personal recommendation. Independent clinical review is pending. A qualified clinician must assess individual suitability. Timings, relative costs and visuals are illustrative, not guarantees.
Read the editorial policyCompare different approaches
Related catalogue tags, not recommendations.