Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy at Houston Vein Specialists uses Asclera (polidocanol), an FDA-approved liquid sclerosant, to treat spider veins (telangiectasias) and small varicose veins (reticular veins) that cause cosmetic concern on the thighs, calves, and ankles. The treatment is performed by Dr. David D. Shin or a supervised clinician in the Texas Medical Center suite and requires no anesthesia, no incisions, and no recovery time.

During a session, the patient lies on an examination table and the target veins are identified under bright procedural lighting, sometimes aided by a vein light transilluminator for deeper reticular feeders. A very fine-gauge needle is used to inject a small volume of Asclera solution directly into each vein. Polidocanol works by irritating the inner lining of the vessel wall (endothelium), causing it to swell, stick together, and ultimately fibrose. The…

Typical treatment plans involve two to four sessions spaced at least four to six weeks apart, allowing full assessment of each session's results before proceeding. The number of sessions required depends on the extent of spider vein involvement, the size of the feeding reticular veins, and whether underlying venous reflux is contributing to vein formation. At Houston Vein Specialists, an initial assessment is conducted to determine whether surface spider…