The two most common types of spider vein therapy are sclerotherapy and laser therapy. Both treatments are normally effective for eliminating spider veins, although there is no guarantee that either treatment will work completely. Some people require multiple treatments of both types of spider vein therapy before they see results, while there are other people who see results immediately. A person who is considering therapy for spider veins should see a dermatologist to help determine which treatment may be best for her individual case of spider veins. Sclerotherapy and laser therapy for spider veins are usually close to the same price, and insurance normally does not cover either procedure.
Sclerotherapy is an effective type of spider vein therapy involving the use of injections directly into spider veins. The solution inside the injections normally causes the spider vein to constrict and collapse over a few weeks. Once the vein has collapsed, it usually becomes almost invisible. People who have very large spider veins may require either more of the solution injected or multiple injections spaced out over a short period of time. Apart from the initial injection into the spider vein, sclerotherapy is typically painless, and most people report good results with the procedure.
Laser therapy may be the oldest form of spider vein therapy. When laser therapy for spider veins is performed, the laser is placed directly over the vein or veins to be treated. The beam can penetrate through several layers of skin without harming the surface of the skin. When the laser beams come in contact with the spider veins, they can cause them to shrink and collapse. People who receive laser spider vein therapy might experience a small amount of pain as the laser comes in contact with the skin, but this normally goes away almost immediately.
It may be hard for a person to decide which type of spider vein therapy to receive because both procedures tend to be equally effective and usually fall within the same price range. Doctors and dermatologists generally advise their patients to choose sclerotherapy for large, very noticeable spider veins and laser therapy for small to medium-sized spider veins. Even though insurance will normally not cover spider vein therapy due to it being cosmetic in nature, there are some clinics that may be able to work out payment plans with patients who cannot afford to pay for the entire cost of the procedure upfront.