Norman Regional Health System

Non-ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy can be an effective treatment for small varicose veins, reticular veins and spider veins. Sclerotherapy is often done for cosmetic purposes, which is not covered by insurance.

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the selected vein. The injected solution causes the vein to collapse then it is reabsorbed into local tissue and eventually fades.

If you are on minocycline for acne, this procedure is not for you.

After Sclerotherapy, the treated veins tend to fade within a few weeks, but occasionally it may take a month or more to see full results.

In some instances, several sclerotherapy treatments may be needed. Generally you need to wait 4-6 weeks for the next treatment.

The total cost of the treatment is $350.

This includes:

  • Initial consultation
  • One treatment session
  • One follow up visit.

$50 will be due at the initial consultation and the remaining $300 on the day of treatment.

The cost of “touch up” injections will be $100 and will be due at the time of treatment. The “touch up” injections can be done 4-6 weeks after initial treatment.

Temporary side effects may include bruising, raised red areas, small skin sores, and darkened skin in the form of lines or spots and multiple tiny red blood vessels. The side effects usually go away within a few days to several weeks. Some side effects can take months or even years to disappear completely. If a foamed solution is used, you may also have inflammation, visual disturbance, headache, fainting or nausea.

It is possible to have an allergic reaction to the solution used for treatment, but it is rare.

Some people experience minor stinging or cramping when the needle is inserted and when the solution is injected. Pain may occur if the solution leaks from the vein into surrounding tissue. Once the needle is withdrawn, the practitioner will apply compression and massages in the area to keep blood out of the injected vessel and to disperse the solution. A compression pad may be taped onto the injection site to keep the area compressed while the practitioner moves to the next vein.

The number of injections depends on the number and size of veins being treated.

Studies of sclerotherapy as a treatment for varicose and spider veins indicate that it has an overall success rate of about 60-80 percent.

You will want to avoid sun exposure to the treated areas during the recovery time. The inflammation caused by the injections combined with sun exposure can lead to dark spots on your skin, especially if you already have a dark skin tone.

Patients will be given pre-and-post-procedure instructions.