I have bruising from Sclerotherapy injections that I had 8 weeks ago is this normal?

It has been 8 weeks since I had spider and 1 surface blue vein injected by vein surgeon. I still have black blue spots and the surface vein looks worse, will this correct itself or do i need more treatments/ new doc??

Answers from doctors (10)


More About Doctor David Green, MD

Published on Jul 06, 2021

After sclerotherapy, it usually takes months for the treated veins to be removed by the body. During this time you should also expect brown lines to appear that follow the course of the treated veins - these lines, almost always, fade spontaneously and there is little that you can do to expedite the process. You need to re-evaluate after 6 months.

Answered by David Green, MD (View Profile)

After sclerotherapy, it usually takes months for the treated veins to be removed by the body. During this time you should also expect brown lines to appear that follow the course of the treated veins - these lines, almost always, fade spontaneously and there is little that you can do to expedite the process. You need to re-evaluate after 6 months.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Owensboro Heart & Vascular

Published on Dec 31, 2018

Yes. Try Arnicare ointment; it will help.

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Answered by Owensboro Heart & Vascular

Yes. Try Arnicare ointment; it will help.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Dec 06, 2018

Without seeing the areas, it is difficult to say. Did you wear hose? Did/do you use a bruise/healing cream such as Dermaka? Have you been checked for trapped blood in the larger vein?

Your surgeon can look at this. Typically at 8 weeks you should be pretty well healed. The average area of veins can take 3-5 treatments. You have to decide if you want to start with someone new. One treatment will rarely resolve your spider veins.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Without seeing the areas, it is difficult to say. Did you wear hose? Did/do you use a bruise/healing cream such as Dermaka? Have you been checked for trapped blood in the larger vein?

Your surgeon can look at this. Typically at 8 weeks you should be pretty well healed. The average area of veins can take 3-5 treatments. You have to decide if you want to start with someone new. One treatment will rarely resolve your spider veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Sep 11, 2010

After sclerotherapy the treated veins often times look worse before they look better. This process takes 3 to 4 weeks. If there is continued bruising after this time I would first look for trapped blood within the treated veins which can be easily evacuated. If this is not the case then staining may need to be considered. Many of the local problems after sclerotherapy are self correcting. I would recommend following up with your treating physician before going to someone new.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

After sclerotherapy the treated veins often times look worse before they look better. This process takes 3 to 4 weeks. If there is continued bruising after this time I would first look for trapped blood within the treated veins which can be easily evacuated. If this is not the case then staining may need to be considered. Many of the local problems after sclerotherapy are self correcting. I would recommend following up with your treating physician before going to someone new.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Laser Vein Center

Published on Nov 25, 2009

Post sclerotherapy bruising is normal, however should be expected to resolve by 2-3 weeks.
Discoloration persisting beyond this period is most likely not bruising. Bruising can be easily confused with either or both Hyper-pigmentation and trapped fluid within the treated veins. In both of these instances, the veins ALWAYS look worse and more prominent that pre-treatment.

Trapped fluid within a treated vein can occur due to inadequate compression, walking, or failure to identify and treat those blue veins which flow into the spider veins. Also a combination of the above can exist. Depending on the cause, blue "feeder" veins need to be treated with sclerotherapy. In any case, the trapped fluid should improve after the veins are aspirated and the fluid expressed.

Hyper pigmentation can occur secondary to trapped fluid. It can also occur depending on several factors including skin characteristics, concentration of sclerosant solution, and technique. The pigmentation will usually fade, although slowly, continuing for up to, but not necessarily requiring, two years.

Answered by Laser Vein Center (View Profile)

Post sclerotherapy bruising is normal, however should be expected to resolve by 2-3 weeks.
Discoloration persisting beyond this period is most likely not bruising. Bruising can be easily confused with either or both Hyper-pigmentation and trapped fluid within the treated veins. In both of these instances, the veins ALWAYS look worse and more prominent that pre-treatment.

Trapped fluid within a treated vein can occur due to inadequate compression, walking, or failure to identify and treat those blue veins which flow into the spider veins. Also a combination of the above can exist. Depending on the cause, blue "feeder" veins need to be treated with sclerotherapy. In any case, the trapped fluid should improve after the veins are aspirated and the fluid expressed.

Hyper pigmentation can occur secondary to trapped fluid. It can also occur depending on several factors including skin characteristics, concentration of sclerosant solution, and technique. The pigmentation will usually fade, although slowly, continuing for up to, but not necessarily requiring, two years.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Miller Vein

Published on Nov 20, 2009

It is common for patients to require several treatments before obtaining the results they are looking for. Without actually seeing the leg, it is difficult to give advice. You may have some trapped blood in the vein that you say looks worse, and your physician could drain it which may make it look and feel better. I would advise following up with the physician that treated you

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Answered by Miller Vein

It is common for patients to require several treatments before obtaining the results they are looking for. Without actually seeing the leg, it is difficult to give advice. You may have some trapped blood in the vein that you say looks worse, and your physician could drain it which may make it look and feel better. I would advise following up with the physician that treated you

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Angelo N. Makris MD

Published on Nov 19, 2009

It is difficult to make a diagnosis without seeing the area, but what you are describing may be "staining." This is a discoloration of the skin related to the sclerosing agent. If this is the case, staining will fade, but will take several months. My suggestion is that you f/u
with your physician to see they think, but would avoid further treatments with that sclerosing agent.

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Answered by Angelo N. Makris MD

It is difficult to make a diagnosis without seeing the area, but what you are describing may be "staining." This is a discoloration of the skin related to the sclerosing agent. If this is the case, staining will fade, but will take several months. My suggestion is that you f/u
with your physician to see they think, but would avoid further treatments with that sclerosing agent.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Nov 19, 2009

This can be the case after sclerotherapy it generally resolves with time.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

This can be the case after sclerotherapy it generally resolves with time.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialty Medical Clinic, Inc.

Published on Nov 18, 2009

True bruising, color of released blood between the skin cells, does not last more than 3 weeks. So if there is a mark left 8 weeks after sclerotherapy, it should be something else, such as hyperpigmentation (light or dark brownish/rusty skin discoloration. Of course
consistent scratching of treated area, can induce more fresh bruising, if that is the case. I suggest to see the doctor who did the sclerotherapy, for clarification and further management.

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Answered by Vein Specialty Medical Clinic, Inc.

True bruising, color of released blood between the skin cells, does not last more than 3 weeks. So if there is a mark left 8 weeks after sclerotherapy, it should be something else, such as hyperpigmentation (light or dark brownish/rusty skin discoloration. Of course
consistent scratching of treated area, can induce more fresh bruising, if that is the case. I suggest to see the doctor who did the sclerotherapy, for clarification and further management.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Heart and Vein Center

Published on Nov 18, 2009

Although some marks might take some tome to fade away after sclerotherapy, eight weeks is already a long time and you should have seen some improvement.

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Answered by Heart and Vein Center

Although some marks might take some tome to fade away after sclerotherapy, eight weeks is already a long time and you should have seen some improvement.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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