Spider Veins FAQ

Spider Veins

When should I see a vein care specialist?

You should see a vein specialist if:

  • Your leg symptoms are interfering with your daily activities
  • One of your veins becomes red, hard, warm or painful
  • You have sudden increase in swelling in your leg
  • The skin on your leg or ankle becomes dark or thickened
  • You develop a sore or rash near your ankle
  • You are unhappy with the appearance of your leg veins
  • You had significant vein problems during pregnancy and plan to get pregnant again. Treating the underlying problem before the next pregnancy can help prevent a lot of misery.

Are spider veins dangerous?

Generally, no. Most people with spider veins do not have complications from them. There are exceptions, such as bleeding from spider veins. Spider veins that are clustered along the inside of the leg or around the ankles may indicate a more significant problem in one of the larger veins below the skin surface.

Does sclerotherapy hurt?

The needles used for sclerotherapy are very tiny and most people do not find the treatment to be painful. The medicines used at Michigan Vein Care Specialists do not cause burning or cramping when they are injected like some older sclerotherapy options do.

Most people who have had both agree that surface laser treatment of spider veins is much more painful than sclerotherapy.

If you are particularly sensitive to needles, applying a topical anesthetic to the areas to be treated one hour before your treatment is an option. Please feel free to discuss this further with Dr. Jones.

How many treatments will I need?

Every person is different, but 2-6 treatments per area is typical. You will normally see improvement with each treatment, but most spider veins do not disappear completely after a single treatment.

How long do I have to wait between treatments?

It is best to wait at least a month before treating the same area again. This allows any inflammation to resolve and gives time to see what is going to fade from the first session before injecting those veins again.

Will insurance pay for my spider vein treatment?

In most cases, no. Sclerotherapy for spider veins is usually done for cosmetic reasons and is an out of pocket expense. There are exceptions for treating spider veins that have hemorrhaged.