Sclerotherapy in Turkey

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical treatment for spider veins (telangiectasias) and small varicose veins, performed by injecting a solution that collapses the vein so the body gradually reabsorbs it. In Turkey it is a fast, walk-in procedure done in clinic without general anaesthetic, typically from around £150 per session, with most people resuming everyday activities the same day. Unal Cakar coordinates your treatment with vetted, accredited dermatology and vascular clinics, so you can be assessed, treated and back home within a short trip.

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive medical treatment used to reduce or eliminate visible leg veins, most commonly spider veins and reticular (feeder) veins, and some small varicose veins. A very fine needle is used to inject a sclerosant, either a liquid or a foam, directly into the targeted vein. The solution irritates the inner lining of the vein wall, causing it to swell, stick together and close off. Over the following weeks the treated vein turns into scar tissue that fades from view as your body reroutes blood through healthier deeper veins.

It is one of the most established treatments in cosmetic and vascular dermatology, used for decades, and is generally considered the gold standard for small spider veins. It is primarily cosmetic when treating spider veins, but can also relieve symptoms such as aching, throbbing, burning and swelling when those veins are causing discomfort. Larger or deeper varicose veins linked to underlying venous reflux may need a duplex ultrasound scan and a different procedure (such as endovenous laser or radiofrequency ablation) instead of, or before, sclerotherapy.

Before treatment you have a consultation and examination of your legs, sometimes with a handheld light or duplex ultrasound, to map the veins and rule out a larger underlying problem. During the session you lie down and the clinician cleans the skin, then uses a tiny needle to inject the sclerosant into each target vein. For larger vessels or networks of veins, foam sclerotherapy may be used because the foam displaces blood and covers more surface area. Each injection causes a brief stinging or cramping sensation that settles quickly. A typical session lasts 15 to 45 minutes depending on how many veins are treated.

Afterwards the clinician applies compression, either pads, bandages or medical compression stockings, and asks you to walk around to keep blood moving. You wear the compression stockings for a set period, often a couple of days continuously and then during the day for one to two weeks, to support healing and improve results. Most people need two to four sessions, spaced several weeks apart, to clear an area fully, because veins respond gradually and not every vessel closes on the first attempt.

• Injection treatment for spider veins, reticular veins and small varicose veins on the legs
• Walk-in procedure, no general anaesthetic, sessions of about 15 to 45 minutes
• Best suited to cosmetic and small symptomatic veins; larger varicose veins need ultrasound assessment first
• Usually two to four sessions for a full area, with compression stockings afterwards
• Coordinated by Unal Cakar with vetted, accredited clinics and structured aftercare

1. 01

   Remote consultation and photos

   You share clear photos of the affected areas and your medical history with Unal, who arranges an initial assessment with a vetted clinic to confirm sclerotherapy is suitable and estimate how many sessions you may need.

2. 02

   Clinical assessment in Turkey

   On arrival the clinician examines your legs and, where indicated, performs a duplex ultrasound to check for underlying venous reflux that might need a different or additional treatment first.

3. 03

   Injection session

   The sclerosant is injected into each targeted vein using a very fine needle. The session is done awake, with no general anaesthetic, and usually takes 15 to 45 minutes.

4. 04

   Compression and walking

   Compression stockings or bandages are applied and you are encouraged to walk immediately. You will be advised how long to keep the compression on and which activities to avoid in the first days.

5. 05

   Aftercare and follow-up

   Unal coordinates structured aftercare and a review of your results. Because veins fade gradually, additional sessions are planned at the right interval, either during a longer stay or on a return visit.

Good candidates are generally healthy adults bothered by spider veins, reticular veins or small varicose veins on the legs, who can wear compression stockings and stay reasonably mobile afterwards. It is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and is usually postponed until after delivery. People with a history of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), certain clotting disorders, a known allergy to sclerosant agents, an active leg infection, or significant arterial disease may not be candidates, and those on the contraceptive pill or hormone therapy should disclose this as it can affect clotting risk. If your veins stem from larger underlying varicose veins or venous reflux, an ultrasound assessment is needed first, as those cases often require treating the source vein before or instead of cosmetic sclerotherapy.

• Minimally invasive and non-surgical, performed without general anaesthetic and without incisions or stitches
• Walk-in, walk-out treatment with most everyday activities resumed the same day
• Effective and long established for fading spider veins and small varicose veins
• Can relieve aching, throbbing, swelling and heaviness when veins are symptomatic, not only their appearance
• Quick sessions, typically 15 to 45 minutes, with no hospital stay
• Affordable per-session pricing in Turkey compared with the UK and Western Europe

Recovery is fast and most people walk out and return to light daily activities the same day. You will usually be asked to walk regularly, wear compression stockings as instructed, and avoid strenuous exercise, hot baths, saunas, sunbeds and long-haul flights for a short period, often around one to two weeks. It is normal to see bruising, redness, raised firm lines along the treated veins, and small tender lumps for a few days to a few weeks. Mild itching or a tight sensation can also occur and settles on its own.

The treated veins do not disappear instantly. Smaller spider veins typically fade over three to six weeks, while larger veins can take three to four months to clear. Brownish discolouration (hyperpigmentation) along a treated vein may appear and usually fades over months, though in some people it lingers longer. Your clinic will give written aftercare instructions, and Unal helps coordinate any follow-up sessions and reviews so your course of treatment is completed properly even after you return home.

Sclerotherapy reliably fades or removes treated spider veins and small varicose veins, with studies and long clinical experience showing good cosmetic improvement in most patients, though no honest clinic can guarantee that every vein will vanish or that you will never need a touch-up. Results build gradually over weeks to a few months as the closed veins are reabsorbed, and most people need two to four sessions for a full area. Importantly, treatment removes existing visible veins but does not prevent new spider veins from forming over time, so some patients choose periodic maintenance sessions. Wearing compression as advised, staying active and protecting treated areas from sun helps you get the best and longest-lasting outcome.

Turkey offers experienced dermatology and vascular clinics at a fraction of UK and Western European prices, with sessions often starting from around £150 versus several hundred pounds per session at home, and short waiting times. Unal Cakar is an independent health-tourism facilitator and patient advocate, not a clinic, so his role is to assess your case honestly, match you to an accredited clinic, and coordinate your assessment, treatment and aftercare. You always pay the clinic directly, never Unal, and his guidance and coordination are sponsored by vetted partner hospitals, so you get independent advocacy without paying a middleman fee.