Most people don’t think about their varicose or spider veins until shorts and swimsuit season makes them impossible to ignore, but summer is actually one of the more complicated times to start treatment, not the best one. Here’s the honest timeline, and what to do if you’re noticing your legs right now.
Why Do I Only Notice My Veins in Summer?
Veins that have been hidden under pants and tights all winter suddenly become visible and heat genuinely makes symptoms worse, not just more noticeable. Higher temperatures cause blood vessels to dilate, which can increase the achiness, swelling, and visible bulging associated with varicose veins.
That combination—visibility plus discomfort—is exactly why vein consultations spike every July in Edmonton.
Is Summer a Bad Time to Get Vein Treatment?
Not a bad time, but not the ideal one either. Sclerotherapy and other vein treatments typically require sun avoidance on the treated area for two to six weeks afterward, since UV exposure on freshly treated veins increases the risk of pigment changes.
That’s a real constraint during an Edmonton summer full of patios, golf, and lake trips. It doesn’t mean you should wait. It means your provider needs to plan around it.
- If symptoms are purely cosmetic (visible spider veins, no pain or swelling), many patients choose to wait until late summer or fall, when sun exposure is easier to manage and compression stockings are less uncomfortable
- If you have aching, heaviness, swelling, or skin changes, these can be signs of an underlying vein condition that’s worth assessing now — medical necessity outweighs cosmetic timing
- If you’re planning ahead for next summer, starting your treatment series this fall gives results time to fully settle before shorts season returns
What’s Actually Causing My Varicose or Spider Veins?
Visible leg veins are usually a symptom of chronic venous insufficiency: A condition where the valves inside your leg veins aren’t closing properly, letting blood pool instead of flowing efficiently back to the heart. It’s estimated that a meaningful share of North American adults live with some degree of this condition, even when it shows up as nothing more than a few visible spider veins.
Left untreated, venous insufficiency can progress: Increased swelling, skin discoloration, and in more advanced cases, venous ulcers. That’s the case for getting an actual diagnosis rather than self-treating with concealer and compression socks indefinitely.
Not sure if what you’re seeing is cosmetic or something worth a closer look? Book a consultation with Dr. Sam Azer, Lucere’s vein specialist, to find out what’s actually going on beneath the surface.
What Treatment Options Exist?
Dr. Sam Azer brings 10+ years of vein treatment experience to Lucere, offering a range of options matched to vein size and underlying cause rather than a single one-size-fits-all approach.
- Sclerotherapy: An injected solution causes targeted veins to collapse and fade over following weeks — the standard for spider veins and smaller varicose veins
- Laser and radiofrequency-based treatments: Used for larger varicose veins by closing the affected vessel from within
- Compression therapy: Often paired with in-office treatment to support healing and circulation
Most patients need two to four sessions spaced several weeks apart, depending on the number and size of veins being treated.
FAQ: Vein Treatment in Edmonton
Are spider veins and varicose veins the same thing?
No. Spider veins are small, thread-like, and typically just a cosmetic concern. Varicose veins are larger, raised, and more likely to come with symptoms like aching or swelling and more likely to signal an underlying vein condition.
Will my vein treatment be covered by insurance?
Treatment for medically necessary venous insufficiency may be eligible depending on your plan; purely cosmetic spider vein treatment typically isn’t. Dr. Azer’s consultation will help clarify which category your case falls into.
How long until I see results after sclerotherapy?
Many patients see noticeable fading within a few weeks, though full results can take a couple of months as the body clears the treated vein.
Can I still go swimming or use a hot tub after treatment?
You’ll typically need to avoid submerging treated legs in pools, lakes, or hot tubs for one to two weeks post-treatment to reduce infection risk — worth factoring into your summer plans.
Do varicose veins come back after treatment?
The specific veins treated are permanently closed or eliminated, but new veins can develop over time, especially if you’re prone to venous insufficiency. Some patients return for periodic touch-up sessions.
Tired of covering up your legs every July? Book a consultation with Dr. Sam Azer at Lucere Dermatology & Laser Clinic — Edmonton South or Downtown — or call 780-461-1188.