Is It Better to Remove Spider Veins or Leave Them?

• 30 July 2025
• Dr Zil Yassine

Last updated on August 21, 2025

Spider veins are tiny venules and capillaries that have enlarged, typically due to excess strain, hormonal changes, or sun damage. In most cases, spider veins can be left alone. But if yours are attached to varicose or feeder veins, it’s best to get assessed.

Is it better to remove spider veins or leave them?

There are some questions you should ask yourself (and potentially a vein specialist) to determine if your veins need to be treated.

1. Are they causing aesthetic discomfort? 

If your spider veins are causing aesthetic discomfort, treatment may be a good option for you. While it may not necessarily be physically necessary, it could improve your confidence, stress levels, or even mental state. If, however, you don’t really care about how they look, treatment may not benefit you.

2. Are you feeling any strange symptoms?

If you’re experiencing other symptoms like leg itching, swelling, fatigue, or pain, there is a chance your spider veins are linked to underlying vein issues – more specifically, venous insufficiency.

Insufficiency occurs when the valves in a vein are damaged or malfunctioning. As a result, the blood slips backwards into the vein instead of continuing on to the heart. As the blood begins to pool, pressure increases in surface veins, making them expand. In these cases, it’s best to seek specialist advice. Venous insufficiency is a progressive condition, so your symptoms and vein appearance may worsen over time.

3. Are there any bulging veins on your legs?

Bulging, lumpy veins are likely to be varicose veins, a medical condition that should at the very least be assessed. These veins can contribute to spider veins, but may also lead to pain, itching, swelling, skin discolouration, and even ulceration in severe cases. 

Typically, if the veins aren’t causing symptoms, you can start with conservative management steps like wearing compression socks and elevating the legs. 

If you want to pursue treatment, varicose veins need to be addressed before your spider veins to ensure the best possible results. Please reach out to our sister clinic, The Vein Institute, to book your consultation. They specialise in varicose vein leg treatments, while we specialise in spider vein treatment.

Is spider vein treatment safe and effective?

Spider vein treatments are considered safe for most patients. The only instance where you shouldn’t get treatment is if you are currently pregnant or on HRT. In these cases, speak to your treating doctor about your options.

Additionally, treatments like Nd:YAG laser, sclerotherapy, radiofrequency cauterisation, and Cryo Laser and Cryo Sclerotherapy have shown good results for their respective vein types. For example, some studies report an up to 100% effectiveness rate for CLaCS after the third treatment session.

It’s important to note that results take time, and most patients need 2-3 treatment sessions to see the best results. 

Is it Better to Remove Spider Veins or Leave Them: The Takeaway

On their own, spider veins don’t pose a health risk, so they would not require treatment. In other cases, they may cause significant aesthetic discomfort or be linked to underlying issues, in which case it is best to seek specialist advice. Our clinical team will be able to advise on which course of action and which treatment is best for your case.

About The Author

Dr Zil Yassine

Dr Zil Yassine is a practising doctor of over 15 years and an expert in minimally invasive vein treatments. Zil is dedicated and passionate about vascular health and staying up-to-date on the latest technology. Providing patients with the best care is Zil’s number one priority. As the Medical Director of Spider Veins Australia, he’s responsible for training doctors to diagnose vein disorders and ensuring they perform treatments to the highest standard. Dr Zil proudly holds a Bachelor of Medicine (UNSW), Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Phlebology (ACP), and is a fellow of FRACGP, F(Phleb UK).