I already have a lot of varicose and spider veins visible in my legs, and I'm sure once I actually get down to a healthy weight they'll look awful. My overall health is good and the veins don't seem to be causing any problems, they just look ugly. Health and finances permitting, I intend to try to get the varicose and spider veins removed after I've been in maintenance for a while. I know that varicose veins can't always be obliterated because of related health conditions, but does anyone know if they'll remove a lot of damaged veins if everything else if fine?

I'd love to know the answer to this, too. My calves look like a European road map, I have so many spider veins.

I've had both done and here's what I know:

Varicose veins and spider veins are essentially 2 different things in the medical world so it helps to think of them differently.

Varicose veins are usually treated by stripping (how I had mine) and laser. Sometimes you can get it covered by insurance. Mine was, just talk to the doctor about it. It wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be but you'll have to wear compression stockings for awhile. So far, my varicose veins have not reappeared.

Spider veins annoy me. They are usually treated with something called sclerotherapy. That involves having a solution injected into the vein which causes it to collapse and thus disappear. This is usually cosmetic surgery and costs a few hundred dollars. (mine was $200). Call a couple of places as the price varies. It also really isn't that painful and you will have to wear compression stockings.

One thing you don't read too often is that spider veins have a tendency to reappear after a few years. (which is why they annoy me) Mine did, so I had another sclero session. It's also highly dependent on the skill of the person doing it and their ability to get the needle into small veins. They sometimes takes up to 4 weeks to fade as well.

I'd definitely do it again, and probably will in another two years, although I'm hoping by losing weight the spiders don't make such a common reappearance.

You can get both procedures done at the same time.

If you have any other questions, please ask.

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I should probably answer your original question - do they remove a lot? Yes, they did with mine - any veins bulging on my leg were removed. They really only shy away from deep blue veins or anything too deep under the skin. Your initial consultation will go over that.

Cool. Thanks, Vex.

I'm booked into having my varicose veins removed sometime over the next months!

Mine look so bad now I have lost some weight in my lower legs and the bulging veins are behind my knee.

They are not spider veins, they are rather large and twisted looking and if I wear tights you can see a massive buldge sticking out!

Did anyone have any problems with swollen ankles at the end of the day, my leg feels achy and sore when I stand at the same stop for too long??!!!