Spider and Varicose Vein Treatment: Types, Costs and Procedures

What has long, spindly legs, can crawl up your ankle and scares many people? Spider veins! Telangiectasias, more commonly known as spider veins, are small broken or dilated blood vessels at the skin's surface. While spider veins are typically not painful or don't require treatment, some individuals may wish to treat their spider veins for cosmetic purposes.¹

The good news is that spider veins are usually easy to remove with minimally invasive treatments that involve little to no downtime for recovery. Wondering how much spider vein treatment will cost you? This guide to spider veins, their treatments and the costs of these treatments can help you plan and budget for your spider vein removal procedure.

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are small, damaged blood vessels that are no longer properly circulating blood. Those webs of blue and red veins on your legs can be unsightly and uncomfortable.¹

Spider vein causes

Spider veins can occur when the small one-way valves in the vein get weakened or damaged and collect blood instead of circulating it back to the heart. The accumulating blood puts pressure on the walls of the vein, causing them to bulge and become visible.¹

Blood vessels can also burst from sun damage or pressure due to an injury.¹ Family history and/or hormonal changes may also cause spider veins.² People who sit or stand for long periods of time are also at a higher risk.²

Spider veins vs. varicose veins

Spider veins are basically a milder version of varicose veins:³

• The condition can be caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, occupations that involve a lot of standing, obesity and fluctuating hormones.
• Spider veins tend to develop more frequently in women than in men, and the odds of developing spider veins increase with age.¹

Are Spider and Varicose Veins Dangerous?

Spider veins usually don't come with potentially serious health issues, although some individuals do experience swelling, cramps, itching, leg fatigue and other discomforts. For the most part, sufferers find spider veins simply unsightly.²

Varicose veins can be more painful than spider veins, and although rare, can increase your chance for a complication like a blood clot or ulcer to develop.²

Can Spider and Varicose Veins Go Away on Their Own?

Since spider and varicose veins involve a damaged vein, they won't go away on their own.⁴ If you want to treat your spider veins or varicose veins, a good place to start is by scheduling an appointment with a specialist who can examine the veins and discuss potential treatment options.

Spider and Varicose Vein Treatment Options

There are a variety of treatment methods to get rid of spider veins or varicose veins if they have become painful or a cosmetic concern. The right treatment option to remove spider veins or varicose veins may depend on the location and extent of the veins being treated. Sometimes, more than one treatment method will be recommended.⁴

Sclerotherapy

One of the most common procedures for removing spider and varicose veins is sclerotherapy.⁵

• Sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure⁶ that has been effectively used on spider veins since the 1930s.⁷
• During sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a concentrated saline solution³ into the spider veins with a small needle.⁶ The solution causes irritation inside the vein, causing it to collapse, stick together and fade away.⁴
• After sclerotherapy, the area may be dressed with compressive tape or stockings for two to three weeks.⁴
• The area may initially appear bruised, but it should fade over time.⁶
• Patients can expect to see the unsightly veins disappear gradually over three to six weeks; larger veins may take three to four months to show results.⁵

To learn more about the sclerotherapy procedure, benefits, risks and costs, talk with your plastic surgeon. Then, look forward to baring your legs all summer long!

Laser treatments

Laser treatments are another option for treating spider veins and small varicose veins.⁴

• During the procedure, a doctor will direct a laser light at the vein through the surface of the skin.⁴ The heat from the light destroys the blood vessel and the remains dissolve away.⁸
• Laser treatments are often the most preferred method for spider veins on the face.⁸
• Some smaller spider veins may disappear immediately with a laser treatment. Larger spider veins may take one to three months to fade.⁴
• Multiple treatments may be required to reach your desired results.⁴

Catheter-based treatments

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and radiofrequency vein ablation are newer, catheter-based procedures that your doctor may recommend to treat large varicose veins.⁴

• Both treatments involve making a small incision to insert a catheter (for radiofrequency vein ablation) or laser fiber (for EVLT) into the vein, and use either heat from a laser or radiofrequency to cause the vein to collapse.⁴
• Endovenous laser therapy is a newer treatment for spider veins. The procedure works to treat the spider vein from the inside out.⁴
• Both outpatient procedures require anesthesia, and it can take up to a year for the treated veins to disappear. More than one treatment may be needed for best results.⁴

Surgical treatment

Although less common, a procedure called vein stripping can be used to surgically remove large varicose veins.⁹

• During the procedure, a surgeon will administer anesthesia and then make small cuts at the top, middle and bottom of the vein.⁹
• Using a thin wire, the damaged vein will be completely removed and the incisions sutured.⁹
• Legs are wrapped in bandages for three to five days after the procedure.⁹
• This minor surgical procedure has a three-week recovery period.¹⁰

At-home treatments

At-home treatment methods might include following a regular exercise routine, elevating your legs, wearing compression socks¹ and taking breaks if you regularly sit or stand for long periods of time.⁴ While home treatments can't remove existing spider veins and varicose veins, these methods may help prevent the development of new ones⁴ by improving circulation.²

Cost of Spider and Varicose Vein Treatments

The average cost of spider vein and varicose vein treatments can vary based on the type of treatment method used, number of veins being treated, geographic location and facility fees.

For vein treatment that is solely for cosmetic reasons, it usually will not be covered by your health insurance policy. If the varicose veins are causing you pain, some policies may allow coverage of vein treatment procedures.⁷

Spider Vein Treatment Cost Considerations

The price for spider vein treatments is impacted by the type of procedure, procedure provider, anesthesia, post-procedure supplies such as compression stockings, geographic location and the required number of sessions to get your desired results.¹¹

When you're ready to move forward, be sure to consult with a dermatologist, or a vascular or plastic surgeon to determine which spider vein treatment is best for you.¹

How Spider and Varicose Vein Treatments Work

Before vein treatment, your provider will evaluate your spider or varicose veins, and if they are located in your legs, your provider may order an ultrasound to check blood flow in your leg veins.⁴

• The day before a leg treatment, your provider may advise you to avoid applying lotion to your legs.⁵
• During vein treatment, you may not experience anything more than mild discomfort.⁵
• Some vein treatments like catheter-based treatments⁴ and surgical options⁹ will include anesthesia.
• Most spider and varicose vein treatments are outpatient procedures that take anywhere from 30 minutes⁵ to an hour.⁹
• After vein treatment, some people may notice an immediate reduction in their veins and see them disappear within the following weeks.⁴
• Spider veins generally disappear within six weeks, while varicose veins may take a month up to a full year to disappear depending on the treatment.⁴
• Two or three treatments may be recommended to achieve the best results.⁴
• With most vein treatments, patients are able to resume work and routine activities the next day.⁴
• Patients should expect to wear a compression wrap for several days after the procedure to reduce swelling.⁴

How Long Does Spider and Varicose Vein Treatment Last?

In many cases, the results of spider vein treatment are permanent, although new spider veins may develop in other areas.⁵ In addition, some veins may require multiple treatments.⁴

Tips to Prevent Spider Veins

Most self-care tips to prevent spider and varicose veins focus on improving circulation, which can help prevent them from forming. Tips include:²

• Getting plenty of exercise
• Losing weight
• Elevating your legs
• Avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time
• Avoiding long soaks in hot baths⁴

If you are prone to spider or varicose veins, your healthcare specialist may recommend wearing compression stockings, which help apply steady pressure to ease swelling in the lower legs and help reduce the risk of developing blood clots. Your specialist can check that your compression stockings are the right size and are applying the correct amount of pressure.⁴

Financing Spider and Varicose Vein Treatments With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting spider or varicose vein treatments or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Author Bio

Susan Paretts is a freelance writer with 19 years of experience covering health and wellness, pet care and more. Her work has been published by the American Kennel Club, Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, LIVESTRONG.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Chewy and more.