Spider vein treatment in Beirut
Spider veins — the fine red, blue and purple threads just under the skin — are treated with a very fine needle injection that seals them so the body reabsorbs them. Most clear over about four weeks. They are usually treated over one to a few short sessions, with no anaesthetic and no downtime.
They are small, but they are not always superficial
Spider veins are dilated vessels sitting immediately under the skin. Most of the time they are exactly what they appear to be. But a spreading web of them, particularly around the ankle or on the inner thigh, can be the visible outlet of raised pressure coming from a larger failed vein deeper in the leg.
This matters practically: treat the threads and leave the source, and they come back. The duplex scan takes minutes and settles the question, which is why it is done even when the complaint is purely cosmetic.
Why they appear
The common drivers are family history, pregnancy, hormonal change, long hours standing, and age. In this practice, pregnancy is one of the most frequent triggers patients describe — one Google review begins: I had a map of veins on my legs after 2 pregnancies.
Two corrections worth making, because both come up constantly. Spider veins are not exclusively a problem of older people; they appear in the twenties and thirties, particularly where there is a family history. And they are not exclusive to women, though women present with them more often.
How they are treated
Microsclerotherapy: a very fine needle, a small volume of sclerosant, several vessels per sitting. It takes minutes. There is no anaesthetic, and you walk out and carry on with the day. A compression stocking is worn afterwards for the period you are told.
Expect the treated threads to darken before they fade — that is normal — and expect the clearing to take about four weeks. More than one session is common when the area is broad, and areas are usually worked through in stages rather than all at once.
Being straight about the result
Treatment clears the vessels that are treated. It does not stop your body from forming new ones later, particularly through another pregnancy or with a strong family history. Anyone promising a permanent guarantee against ever seeing another thread vein is overselling. What is realistic is a leg that looks markedly better, and a plan for touch-ups if new ones appear.
Results also vary genuinely between people, which is why the practice's own before-and-after material is captioned as one patient's result rather than a promise.
Risks and what can go wrong
Sclerotherapy is a low-risk procedure, but it is a medical procedure and it has known side effects. You should hear all of these before you consent, not after.
- Common and expected: bruising, temporary darkening of the treated vein, small lumps along it, itching for a day or two, and temporary brown pigmentation of the overlying skin (which usually fades over months, but occasionally persists).
- Less common: matting — a fine blush of new tiny vessels near the treated area; and incomplete closure, which needs a further session.
- Uncommon: skin ulceration at an injection site, phlebitis (inflammation of the treated vein), or a lasting pigment change.
- Rare: allergic reaction to the sclerosant, deep vein thrombosis, and, with foam, transient visual disturbance or headache.
Treatment is not appropriate for everyone. Tell the clinic if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have had a DVT or a clotting disorder, are on hormone therapy, or have a known allergy to sclerosants.
References
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Varicose veins: diagnosis and management, clinical guideline CG168. Published 24 July 2013, last updated 2 August 2024. nice.org.uk/guidance/cg168
- Society for Vascular Surgery / American Venous Forum. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, 2023.
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins and related reviews of endovenous ablation.
Clinical guidance changes. This page states the date it was last reviewed, and the sources it draws on are dated.
Common questions.
How long do spider veins take to disappear after treatment?
Most clear over roughly four weeks.
They often look darker in the first days before they fade — that is the sealed vein waiting to be reabsorbed, and it is a normal part of the process rather than a bad sign. Larger veins take longer, because there is more for the body to clear.
Are spider veins dangerous?
In themselves, usually not.
What matters is whether they are being driven by an underlying venous problem, which can progress and does need treating. That is the question the duplex scan answers, and it takes minutes. Spider veins accompanied by heaviness, swelling or night cramps deserve a scan rather than reassurance.
Can spider veins be treated in summer?
Yes. The two practical points are sun exposure on freshly treated skin and wearing a compression stocking in Beirut heat — both manageable, and you are given specific aftercare for the season.
Worth knowing: because the clearing takes about four weeks and larger veins longer, treating well ahead of the season you care about is the more comfortable plan.
Keep reading.
Bring the leg in.
The consultation includes the ultrasound scan, the diagnosis and an exact quote. You decide after that, not before.
+961 81 663 350- Clinic
- Beirut Symposium, Sin El Fil, Beirut
- Hospital
- Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut
- Hours
- Monday to Thursday, 10:00 – 18:00
- Phone
- +961 81 663 350
- wa.me/96181663350
- @dralainshab