Sclerotherapy - for thread veins on the legs
Very often this condition is unsightly and for cosmetic reasons clients thrive to have them removed.
Thread veins lie close to the surface and vary in type, size and colour, ranging from fine red ones to
larger purple or deeper blue veins.
Our preferred method of removing thread veins on the body and legs is compression
sclerotherapy our Clinic Director trained at the Whitelely Clinic to undertake in this procedure by
Vascular Surgeon Mark Whitelely and who is a pioneer in this field.
Most commonly, thread veins are found on the outer side of the thigh, inside the knee and on the
back aspect of the calf, however in some clients these thread veins are so pronounced that they
can cover the whole leg area? No one really understands why people develop thread veins on the legs, but the main cause seem to be heredity, pregnancy, hormones, minor injuries, smoking, alcohol, changes in temperature, obesity, prolonged standing and trauma to the area.
How it works:
It is a relatively simple, non-surgical procedure which takes about 30 minutes to perform and consists of multiple painless microinjections. An extremely very fine needle is used to inject a solution into the vein, which causes it to perish and, over a course of treatments, disappear completely. As microsclerotherapy causes closes the veins by inflammation of the wall, most patients get a patch of inflamed skin over the site of the injection which lasts for up to 2 weeks.
Sometimes results can be seen immediately with the thread vein treated disappearing while you watch, however the aftercare is vital to keep this effect, with maximum effects seen at about 12 weeks. Depending on the number of thread veins on the legs, several sessions may be needed to get the required results.
| Treatment | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
Sclerotherapy - per session |
30 mins | £210 |
Consultation
|
£20 |
Essential Aftercare:
Immediately after the treatment the veins will be taped with gauze to create a compress and
before you leave you will need to wear compression stockings. The tape should be removed after
6/12 hours; however the compression stockings (class3 is best) are worn on the leg/legs treated for
14 days after the treatment to keep the veins compressed to allow for maximum effect of the
treatment. Small bruises may appear at the injection sites but will fade usually within the 2 weeks of
healing with the compression stockings. Because of the aftercare mentioned above, sclerotherapy
is a good treatment for winter when legs can be easily covered up!
Common side effects:
Itching
Bruising
Brown discolouration of the skin (due to the deposition of an iron-containing pigment haemosiderin)
New vessel formation
Allergic reactions to the sclerosing solution
Inflammation and skin injury
Small ulcer
Permanent scar
Thrombosis
*Pregnant or breast feeding mums will be asked to delay treatment; and patients taking certain
medications (e.g. anticoagulants) may be advised against sclerotherapy. All clients are given a
comprehensive medical evaluation and post treatment advice during their consultation to minimise
the risk of any complications.