Before microsclerotherapy, people typically have visible spider veins, thread veins or small clusters of fine veins on the legs, ankles, thighs or calves, appearing as red, blue or purple web-like patterns or small branching lines. These veins are usually purely cosmetic concerns, though some people experience mild aching, burning or restless legs, particularly with extensive spider veins. Common complaints include self-consciousness about leg appearance, reluctance to wear shorts, skirts or swimwear, feeling that spider veins make legs look older or less attractive, and frustration that these veins do not improve with exercise or lifestyle changes. After microsclerotherapy treatment and full healing, typically assessed 6 to 12 weeks after the final treatment session once all treated veins have been absorbed, most people experience significant improvement in the appearance of treated areas. The spider veins and thread veins are substantially reduced or eliminated, creating clearer, smoother-looking skin; the web-like vein patterns are greatly diminished or gone; legs appear more even-toned and youthful; and overall leg aesthetics are significantly improved. Most people achieve 60% to 90% clearance of treated veins, with many experiencing 70% to 80% improvement being typical. The degree of improvement varies depending on the extent and severity of spider veins before treatment, with mild to moderate cases often achieving near-complete clearance; the number of treatment sessions completed; individual healing and absorption rate; adherence to compression stocking protocols; and realistic expectations. During the treatment process, there are several stages: immediately after each session, injection sites show small needle marks and may have slight redness; within days to weeks, treated veins may initially appear darker or more visible as they undergo the closure process, which can be temporarily concerning; gradual fading begins around 2 to 4 weeks after treatment; most visible improvement occurs between 6 to 12 weeks as the body fully absorbs closed veins; and some brown staining (hyperpigmentation) along treated veins may persist for several months before fading, particularly with larger veins. It is important to be patient during the fading process and not judge results too early. Some temporary side effects during healing include bruising at injection sites, small lumps or trapped blood in treated veins that gradually resolve, brown discolouration that typically fades over 6 to 12 months, and occasional matting (appearance of new tiny veins) in treated areas, which usually resolves spontaneously or with additional treatment. Successfully treated spider veins do not return, as those specific vessels have been permanently closed and absorbed. However, new spider veins commonly develop in other locations over months to years due to genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, ageing or lifestyle factors. This is separate from treatment effectiveness and represents new vein formation rather than treatment failure. Many people choose to have maintenance treatments every few years to address newly developed spider veins. Your practitioner should provide realistic before and after photos from their own work showing typical results after complete healing, across various severity levels and skin types. Most people are very satisfied with microsclerotherapy results, finding that clearer, more even-toned legs provide significant cosmetic improvement and increased confidence to wear clothing that shows their legs. The treatment is particularly successful for people with realistic expectations who understand that while substantial improvement is achievable, achieving 100% perfection may not be realistic and that maintenance may be needed over time as new veins develop.
South of England
