The Deal

• $111 for one sclerotherapy session of two vials and a varicose/spider vein evaluation ($200 value)

Sclerotherapy: Vanishing Vessels

To learn exactly how injections can get rid of visible veins, read on.

When describing the effectiveness of sclerotherapy to the New York Times in 2009, Dr. Brian Zelickson called it “the gold standard of spider-vein treatment.” This nonsurgical procedure helps minimize the appearance of varicose or spider veins by individually injecting them with a saline-based solution, which causes the malfunctioning blood vessels to swell, then collapse, then dissolve over the course of several weeks. Blood is rerouted through the nearby veins and arteries, and although many of these treatments are performed for cosmetic purposes, this redirection may also help to relieve local aching and swelling.

Until the 1940s, physicians employed a number of different methods to trigger the collapse of unwanted veins—including iron- and mercury-based formulas—but these occasionally caused their own problematic side effects. Treatment centers no longer use these solutions; instead, researchers continue to develop inventive new techniques to bolster the efficacy of sclerotherapy procedures. Some of these innovations include injectable foams, which more effectively fill large veins without leaking into the surrounding tissues, as well as ultrasound-guiding technology for more precise injections.