What size veins are ideal for sclerotherapy?

What are reticular veins and what is meant by grade 2? I know what bulging varicose veins are, and I don't have those. However, I have green/blue veins close to the surface that are causing minimum symptoms. I have red spider veins, too. What size veins are ideal for sclerotherapy?

Answers from doctors (10)


The Sheen Vein Institute

Published on Dec 17, 2013

Reticular veins are those blue/green veins that crisscross around some people's legs. Spider veins are thin and red. Contrary to what most people think, both the spiders and all the reticular veins are abnormal veins. That said, the green/blue veins that you see on your legs are all abnormal and need to be treated to address vein disease.

When a person is told they have a grade 2 vein disease, it means that they have evidence of vein disease but no evidence of hyperpigmentation, corona P. , dermatitis, atrophy blanche, etc. All of these are signs of chronic vein disease. As for what vein sizes are ideal for sclerotherapy, almost any abnormal vein can be treated with sclerotherapy irregardless of vein diameter. However, larger diameter veins, or veins with a lot of interconnections with other large veins, might need multiple treatments to be successfully eliminated.

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Answered by The Sheen Vein Institute

Reticular veins are those blue/green veins that crisscross around some people's legs. Spider veins are thin and red. Contrary to what most people think, both the spiders and all the reticular veins are abnormal veins. That said, the green/blue veins that you see on your legs are all abnormal and need to be treated to address vein disease.

When a person is told they have a grade 2 vein disease, it means that they have evidence of vein disease but no evidence of hyperpigmentation, corona P. , dermatitis, atrophy blanche, etc. All of these are signs of chronic vein disease. As for what vein sizes are ideal for sclerotherapy, almost any abnormal vein can be treated with sclerotherapy irregardless of vein diameter. However, larger diameter veins, or veins with a lot of interconnections with other large veins, might need multiple treatments to be successfully eliminated.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on Dec 11, 2013

Typically, veins that are 2mm or greater that are refluxing are treated as long as they are not superficial enough to be remove by ambulatory phlebectomy, or straight enough to ablate.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

Typically, veins that are 2mm or greater that are refluxing are treated as long as they are not superficial enough to be remove by ambulatory phlebectomy, or straight enough to ablate.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Arizona Vein Specialists

Published on Dec 08, 2013

Size is less a consideration than malfunction. Spider veins are considered to be defective and can be treated.
Sclerotherapy is still the best treatment for them. Reticular blue veins should exhibit abnormal reflux or appear to feed into spider veins. Reticular flow may be difficult to assess, and some may be normal and left alone. Some reticular veins may bulge at around 4 mm, and these are considered varicose.

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Answered by Arizona Vein Specialists

Size is less a consideration than malfunction. Spider veins are considered to be defective and can be treated.
Sclerotherapy is still the best treatment for them. Reticular blue veins should exhibit abnormal reflux or appear to feed into spider veins. Reticular flow may be difficult to assess, and some may be normal and left alone. Some reticular veins may bulge at around 4 mm, and these are considered varicose.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Center of Orange County

Published on Dec 05, 2013

Veins larger than 0.5 mm are ideal for sclerotherapy, but an experienced skilled physician can often successfully inject even smaller veins. Class 2 vein disease refers to veins larger than 3 mm in diameter.
Reticular veins are flat bluish-green veins on the surface which often feed spider veins.

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Answered by Vein Center of Orange County

Veins larger than 0.5 mm are ideal for sclerotherapy, but an experienced skilled physician can often successfully inject even smaller veins. Class 2 vein disease refers to veins larger than 3 mm in diameter.
Reticular veins are flat bluish-green veins on the surface which often feed spider veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Published on Dec 04, 2013

The ideal veins treated via sclerotherapy are up to 2.5 mm.

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Answered by Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

The ideal veins treated via sclerotherapy are up to 2.5 mm.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Published on Dec 03, 2013

Only the smallest veins are OK for sclerotherapy (usually 1 mm or less). Larger veins, 1-2 mm, are best treated with foam sclerotherapy.

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Answered by Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Only the smallest veins are OK for sclerotherapy (usually 1 mm or less). Larger veins, 1-2 mm, are best treated with foam sclerotherapy.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Heart and Vein Center

Published on Dec 03, 2013

All those veins can be properly treated with sclerotherapy, provided that the person that is doing the treatment has enough of experience, uses the right drugs and concentration, the right needles, etc.

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Answered by Heart and Vein Center

All those veins can be properly treated with sclerotherapy, provided that the person that is doing the treatment has enough of experience, uses the right drugs and concentration, the right needles, etc.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


South Palm Cardiovascular Associates

Published on Dec 03, 2013

There are different techniques of sclerotherapy that can effectively treat spider veins of varying sizes, including tiny red/blue veins (barely 1-2 mm in diameter), up to larger red/purple/blue spider veins that even bulge off of the skin.

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Answered by South Palm Cardiovascular Associates

There are different techniques of sclerotherapy that can effectively treat spider veins of varying sizes, including tiny red/blue veins (barely 1-2 mm in diameter), up to larger red/purple/blue spider veins that even bulge off of the skin.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Dec 03, 2013

The ideal size of spider veins for sclerotherapy is 1 to 2 mm, and the ideal size of reticular veins for sclerotherapy is up to around 3 mm. However, even larger size veins and varicose veins can be treated with sclerotherapy. The grade is just a classification of veins from 0 to 6, with each higher number meaning a more significant vein problem.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

The ideal size of spider veins for sclerotherapy is 1 to 2 mm, and the ideal size of reticular veins for sclerotherapy is up to around 3 mm. However, even larger size veins and varicose veins can be treated with sclerotherapy. The grade is just a classification of veins from 0 to 6, with each higher number meaning a more significant vein problem.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Published on Dec 03, 2013

Usually, the smaller the veins the better for injection. Red, purple, green, and blue veins fit into that category if they are less than 3 mm in diameter.

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Answered by Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Usually, the smaller the veins the better for injection. Red, purple, green, and blue veins fit into that category if they are less than 3 mm in diameter.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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