Brighter Veins, Smoother Skin
What Is Asclera® Sclerotherapy?
Asclera sclerotherapy is a precise, in-office injection treatment for spider veins and reticular veins, the small to medium surface vessels that show up as fine red, blue, or purple lines beneath the skin.
Its active ingredient, polidocanol, is delivered directly into the targeted vein through a very fine needle, causing the vessel walls to collapse and stick together. Asclera is specifically suited to spider veins under 1 millimeter and reticular feeder veins between 1 and 3 millimeters, where a liquid sclerosant can act precisely. Veins larger than 3 millimeters behave differently, since blood flow dilutes and displaces a liquid solution before it can act evenly, so those are better served by Varithena’s foam or, for larger axial veins, by endovenous ablation. Matching the treatment to the size of the vein is what produces complete fading rather than partial improvement.
A few practical facts make Asclera easy to plan around:
- Sessions: typically two to four, spaced four to eight weeks apart
- Anesthesia: none required
- Downtime: none, normal activity resumes immediately
- Results: gradual fading over 8 to 12 weeks
- Evaluation first: the underlying venous system is checked before treatment
Surface veins fed by untreated deeper insufficiency tend to return, which is why that evaluation comes first. Once it is complete, treatment is matched precisely to what each vein needs.
Caring for the Skin Afterward
How Asclera Works and What Recovery Looks Like
The injection itself takes about thirty minutes and requires no anesthesia, with patients returning to their day immediately afterward.
The solution is placed directly into the targeted vein, where it irritates the vessel walls until they collapse and seal together. Over the following weeks, the body gradually absorbs the closed vein, fading it from view. Spider veins typically fade faster than the larger reticular veins, which can take the full 8 to 12 weeks to reach their final result. Each session builds on the last, which is why most patients need two to four sessions for full clearance.
Compression is worn continuously for the first 48 hours, then during the day only for the following two weeks, and this consistency is what most influences how cleanly the treated veins fade. Direct sun on the treated areas is avoided for four weeks, since healing skin is more prone to discoloration when exposed to UV light. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen are avoided as well, because the mild inflammation they would suppress is part of how the treated vein is fully absorbed, and acetaminophen is the appropriate choice if anything is needed. Two cosmetic effects are uncommon but worth knowing about: matting, fine new vessels that are typically temporary, and staining, a brownish discoloration that usually fades over several months and, when persistent, can be treated with a prescribed bleaching cream.
Precision Is the Point
Dr. Schmetterer's Philosophy of Care
A treatment this small leaves little room for guesswork, which is exactly why the evaluation comes first.
Every patient’s veins are examined and, where appropriate, mapped with ultrasound before a single injection is given, so the plan reflects both the size of what is visible and the condition of what is underneath. Sclerotherapy is precise work, and three decades spent on far larger vascular procedures bring a steadiness to it that shows in the result. Clean, even fading is the goal, not veins that return within months. The same judgment that guides every other treatment at this practice applies here, just at a smaller scale.
For most patients, what changes is small in scale but easy to feel: shorts and skirts worn without a second thought, legs that look the way they feel on a good day. That quiet confidence is often what patients remember most.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How does vein size determine which treatment is right for me?
Asclera is suited to spider veins under 1 millimeter and reticular veins between 1 and 3 millimeters, where a liquid sclerosant can act precisely. Veins larger than 3 millimeters are better treated with Varithena’s foam formulation or, for the larger axial veins, with endovenous ablation, since liquid alone is diluted before it can work evenly in bigger vessels. Matching the treatment to the vein size is what produces a complete result rather than a partial one.
How soon will I see results from sclerotherapy?
Treated veins fade gradually as the body absorbs them rather than disappearing immediately. Spider veins typically begin to fade within several weeks, while larger reticular veins may take the full 8 to 12 weeks to reach their final result. Each session builds on the last, so results continue to improve as treatment progresses.
What are the side effects of sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is very well tolerated, and serious complications are uncommon. The two cosmetic effects worth knowing about are matting, very fine new vessels near the treatment site that are typically temporary, and staining, a brownish discoloration that usually fades over several months. Both are reduced by consistent compression and sun avoidance, and persistent staining can be treated with a prescribed bleaching cream.
