What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a treatment option for thread veins in the legs – a common problem that, although harmless, often causes distress as the sufferer can feel self-conscious particularly when the veins appear on an exposed area of the legs. There’s no need to suffer with this embarrassing condition – sclerotherapy is a safe, effective and painless procedure to treat the problem so that when summer comes you’ll have beautiful vein-free legs you’ll be proud to show off!

Factors leading to thread veins include genetics, weight gain, prolonged standing and hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy, birth control pills and HRT treatment.

Thread veins usually appear very near the surface of the skin and are red, blue or purple in colour and less than 1 to 2 mm in diameter. They are not regarded as a serious medical issue but can sometimes ache.

Thread veins are most common on the face and legs, however sclerotherapy is only used for treatment of veins on the legs due to the small risk of scarring, we can recommend other treatments to treat thread veins on the face.

Treatment of more serious, deeper varicose veins is generally considered to be a medical matter and not one for a cosmetic surgeon and so patients are often referred by their GP to a vascular (vein) specialist.

How does Sclerotherapy Work?

A chemical solution or sclerosing agent is injected at several points along the veins. A solution known as sodium tetradecyl sulphate is generally used which irritates the lining of the veins, which in combination with compression after treatment causes the vein walls to collapse. Over time the body absorbs the veins and the appearance is significantly improved resulting in more youthful, smoother looking legs.

Recovery Time: It’s a simple procedure and virtually painless so no anaesthetic is required. You can normally drive and go about your usual activities following treatment. Following the injections it’s important that the veins stay in a collapsed state, therefore cotton balls and a compression wrap may be applied and compression stockings may be required to promote proper healing and help assist shrinkage of the veins.

Some bruising and pigmentation may occur around the treatment areas but this will fade. The treated veins will begin to fade within a few weeks.

How Often: You will most likely need several treatments spaced approximately four to six weeks apart. Although the number of treatments required varies, most people will need two to four sessions.

Results: You will see a significant improvement in the treated veins although depending on the thickness and extent of the veins being treated they may not be removed completely. However, this is a safe and effective procedure that will visibly reduce the appearance of thread veins and more often than not people who undergo sclerotherapy are delighted with the results.

Suitable For: Thread veins on the legs. Laser and IPL machines are more suitable if you have large areas of your legs affected by thread veins, and microwave treatment may be a better option for very small thread veins that are difficult to inject.