Sclerotherapy in Sarasota & Bradenton
Spider Veins, Treated. An In-Office Procedure That Takes Less Time Than Lunch.
Sclerotherapy is the most widely used and well-validated treatment for spider veins and small varicose veins. A sclerosant solution is injected directly into the affected vein, causing the vein wall to swell, stick together, and seal closed. The closed vein is gradually absorbed by the body and fades over several weeks to months.
At Vascular Wellness Institute, sclerotherapy is performed in the office without the need for anesthesia or downtime. Most patients return to their normal activities the same day.
Why We Look Before We Treat
Sometimes spider veins are just spider veins. Sometimes they are the surface sign of a larger vein underneath that is not working properly — and that is the reason they come back after treatment.
Every patient here is evaluated by a board-certified vascular surgeon, and when the pattern suggests something deeper we perform an ultrasound to look. If the veins you can see are being fed by a vein you cannot, treating only the surface means treating it again in a year, and then again after that.
That is not an upsell. Sometimes the answer is that sclerotherapy is exactly right and nothing further is needed. Sometimes it is that sclerotherapy alone would be the wrong choice, and we will tell you so before you spend money on it.
What Sclerotherapy Treats
- Spider veins (telangiectasias) — small red, purple, or blue veins visible at the skin surface
- Reticular veins — slightly larger blue-green feeder veins under the skin
- Small varicose veins remaining after endovenous ablation
- Residual varicosities after other vein procedures
Sclerotherapy treats the veins you can see. It does not treat the larger vein underneath that is usually causing them. When ultrasound shows reflux in a saphenous vein, that vein is closed first — with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), Varithena® foam, or VenaSeal™ adhesive, depending on the anatomy — and sclerotherapy is then used to clear the surface veins that remain. Injecting surface veins without addressing the source is the most common reason spider vein treatment disappoints.
What to Expect
Using a very fine needle, a small amount of sclerosant solution is injected into each targeted vein. Most patients describe a mild stinging or burning sensation that passes within seconds. Multiple veins are typically treated in a single session. The session takes 15-30 minutes. Compression stockings are worn after treatment. Patients are instructed to walk immediately and avoid prolonged sitting, sun exposure on the treated areas, and strenuous exercise for 48 to 72 hours.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Most patients need more than one. Spider veins clear gradually, and each session treats the veins that are visible at that time — as those fade, smaller ones underneath often become apparent. Two to three sessions spaced several weeks apart is typical, though it depends on how extensive the veins are.
Results appear over weeks rather than immediately. Treated veins fade progressively, and the final result is usually apparent two to three months after the last session.
Cosmetic sclerotherapy is generally not covered by insurance and is paid out of pocket. When spider veins are accompanied by symptoms — aching, heaviness, swelling — or when an ultrasound identifies an underlying problem, treatment may be covered. We check before you commit to anything.