Want Your Legs Ready for Next Summer? Fall Is the Time to Think About Varicose Veins
Medically reviewed by Bradley B. Hill, MD, Vascular Surgeon and Medical Director, Hill Vascular & Vein Center
Summer may feel far away, but if you’ve been thinking about doing something about varicose veins or spider veins, fall and winter may be one of the best times to start.
Why begin now?
Because treating veins isn’t necessarily a one-day process. Depending on your symptoms, ultrasound findings, insurance requirements and recommended treatment, there may be several steps between your first appointment and your final result.
Starting during the cooler months gives you time for evaluation, treatment and healing—and makes wearing compression stockings considerably more comfortable than during hot summer weather.
So if you’ve been telling yourself, “I’ll take care of my veins before next summer,” this is the time to put that plan into motion.
Varicose Veins Aren’t Always Just Cosmetic
It’s easy to think of varicose veins as primarily an appearance issue. For some people, that’s true. But bulging or enlarged veins can also be associated with underlying venous disease.
Healthy veins contain valves that help blood travel back toward the heart. When those valves don’t work properly, blood can flow backward and pool in the legs, contributing to enlarged veins and symptoms.
Varicose veins may be associated with:
- Aching, throbbing or burning in the legs
- A feeling of heaviness or fatigue
- Swelling, particularly around the ankles
- Itching around the affected veins
- Leg cramping
- Symptoms that worsen after prolonged sitting or standing
- Skin discoloration or other skin changes
- In more advanced cases, wounds or ulcers near the ankle
Varicose veins can therefore be more than something you see—they can be a sign that the veins aren’t moving blood as efficiently as they should. Mayo Clinic
Why Fall and Winter Are a Great Time to Address Varicose Veins
There’s no medical rule that says varicose veins must be treated during a particular season. But from a practical standpoint, fall and winter offer several advantages.
1. You may need time before treatment even begins
The first step isn’t necessarily scheduling a procedure. A vascular evaluation helps determine what’s actually causing your symptoms and whether treatment is appropriate.
Depending on your condition, your vascular specialist may recommend a venous duplex ultrasound. This painless test uses sound waves to evaluate blood flow and the function of the valves within the veins.
There may also be insurance requirements to complete before a medically necessary procedure can be authorized.
For example, some insurance plans require patients to try conservative treatment, such as compression stockings, before approving treatment for symptomatic varicose veins. The Society for Vascular Surgery notes that many insurers require a period of compression therapy before covering other varicose-vein treatments.
Starting in the fall gives you time to complete those steps rather than discovering them just before summer.
2. Compression stockings are easier to tolerate in cooler weather
Compression stockings can be an important part of managing venous symptoms and may also be recommended following certain vein treatments.
They apply graduated pressure to the legs, helping support venous blood flow and reduce symptoms such as swelling and aching.
The practical reality? They’re generally much more pleasant to wear when it’s cool outside.
If your insurance requires a trial of compression therapy—or your physician recommends compression following treatment—many patients would rather spend those weeks wearing stockings under pants in November than in shorts during July.
3. Your Legs Need Time to Heal
Minimally invasive doesn’t mean your legs will necessarily look completely normal the next day.
Depending on the type of treatment, temporary bruising, swelling or discoloration can occur. With sclerotherapy, for example, bruising can last days or weeks, while temporary brown areas of pigmentation can take several months to disappear.
That doesn’t mean you’ll be unable to go about your normal activities. Many contemporary vein treatments have relatively short functional recovery periods.
But there’s an important difference between feeling recovered and your legs reaching their final cosmetic appearance.
If you’re hoping to feel comfortable showing your legs next summer, allowing several months rather than several weeks makes sense.
What About Spider Veins?
Fall and winter can be an especially convenient time to address cosmetic spider veins.
Spider veins are the smaller red, blue or purple vessels that can appear close to the surface of the skin. Unlike symptomatic venous disease, treatment performed solely for appearance is generally considered cosmetic and may not be covered by insurance.
One commonly used treatment is sclerotherapy, in which a solution is injected into the targeted vein.
And here’s another reason not to wait until swimsuit season.
Spider veins don’t disappear instantly.
According to Cleveland Clinic, smaller spider veins commonly respond within approximately three to six weeks, while larger veins may take three to four months. Some patients need more than one treatment session.
Temporary bruising and pigmentation can occur as the treated veins heal.
Sun exposure matters, too.
After sclerotherapy, patients may be instructed to avoid direct sun exposure to the treated area during the early recovery period.
That’s much easier when your legs are naturally covered by pants and cooler-weather clothing.
For someone considering cosmetic spider-vein treatment, fall and winter give the skin time to recover and the treated veins time to fade before shorts, dresses and swimsuit season return.
Varicose Veins or Spider Veins: What’s the Difference?
Although people sometimes use the terms interchangeably, they’re not quite the same.
Spider veins are usually small vessels visible near the skin’s surface and are often primarily a cosmetic concern.
Varicose veins are typically larger, enlarged or bulging veins. While some people are bothered mainly by their appearance, others experience aching, swelling, heaviness or other symptoms.
That’s why the first question shouldn’t necessarily be, “How do I get rid of this vein?”
It should be:
“Why is this vein here?”
A vascular evaluation can help determine whether what you’re seeing is simply cosmetic or part of an underlying circulation problem.
What Happens at a Vein Evaluation?
Your vascular specialist will review your symptoms, medical history and the appearance of your legs.
Depending on the findings, a venous ultrasound may be recommended to evaluate blood flow and look for abnormal valve function or other problems.
From there, treatment is individualized. Options may include conservative management with compression and lifestyle changes or minimally invasive vein procedures when appropriate.
Not every visible vein requires treatment, and the right approach depends on both the underlying cause and your goals.
Don’t Wait Until May to Start Thinking About Summer
If you’ve spent another summer covering your legs because of varicose or spider veins—or dealing with aching, heaviness or swelling and promising yourself you’ll address it eventually—fall is a good time to start.
Beginning now provides time for:
Evaluation → ultrasound if needed → insurance requirements if applicable → treatment → recovery → results.
And by the time warm weather returns, you’ll be glad you didn’t wait until summer to make the first appointment.
Ready to Start?
If your goal is to have your legs ready for next summer, now is the time to find out what your veins need.
The vascular specialists at Hill Vascular & Vein Center can evaluate both the appearance of your veins and the circulation underneath them and help determine which treatment options may be appropriate for you.
Schedule a vein evaluation at our Campbell or Santa Cruz location.
Call 408-770-HILL (4455) to schedule an appointment.
This information is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Treatment recommendations and insurance coverage vary by patient and health plan.