Microsclerotherapy
Microsclerotherapy is the best treatment for thread veins of the leg. It will dramatically reduce the appearance of these tiny unsightly red veins. They are far more common in women, who can feel self conscious about showing their legs. Male sufferers are treated with equal success. A medication (Fibrovein 0.2%) is injected into each of the involved vessels. This destroys the vein. Over the next few weeks the healing process mops up the destroyed thread vein leaving an improvement in the appearance of the skin.
Thread veins are bright red or blue, and lie close to the surface. They are different from varicose veins. Varicose veins lie deeper, are bigger and knobbly. A physical and ultrasound examination are done on the first visit. This will find out if the valves in your veins are working properly and varicose veins are present and advise on their treatment, which is usually a surgical procedure.
Spider veins or thread veins on the face are better treated with Veinwave or Intense Pulsed Light therapy.
The Assessment
Your veins will be carefully assessed using a physical examination to look at the veins and the skin of your legs. A doppler ultrasound assessment will be done to see if there are any problems with back flow of blood in the deeper or superficial veins of the legs. If this is present it should be treated surgically as if it is left untreated your thread veins will probably re-open and also you may develop more serious problems associated with venous reflux.
The Procedure
Very fine needles are used for the procedure. Support tights or stockings are worn for at least 48 hours afterwards and will increase the success rate of treatment.
Repeat procedures
These should be left for a month as the results develop slowly and further shrinkage of the veins is possible even up to this time. Often there are many spider veins to treat and so as many as 4 sessions may be needed to treat all of them.
Recovery time
With the exception of avoiding violent exercise, you will normally have no down time after the treatment.
The downside?
- Having to wear support stockings. It is often better to time treatments for winter months.
- Itching at the injection site is common and will last up to 2 hours.
- Injection sites can look like insect bites for the first 2 hours.
- Some swelling of legs for the first 2- 3 nights is less common.
- You may feel some cramping in your legs for the first couple of days afterwards.
- Vessels are likely to appear even more prominent for the first month after treatment.
- Old veins can flare up or new veins can appear in the treatment area.
- Small brown spots of brown discolouration may occur in a third of patients , but fade away gradually.
What can go wrong?
- Small ulcers occur rarely and may scar on healing.
- There are rare reports of allergy to the Fibrovein solution.
What should you do after treatment?
- Try to raise your legs as much as possible for the first 24 hours
- Keep support stockings on during the daytime for at least 48 hours after the procedure.
- Walking is encouraged, but avoid prolonged sitting or standing, pounding type exercises, squatting, weight lifting and very hot baths.
- Wear your compression stockings if possible for four weeks after the last treatment.
Conditions that will mean you can not have this treatment:
- Known allergy to Fibrovein solution.
- Pregnancy or breast feeding
- Skin infection in the area to be treated.
- Planned heart surgery; e.g. weak valves in your heart.
- Varicose veins caused by pelvic tumours.
- Uncontrolled disease e.g. diabetes.
- Inability to walk.
Cost: Full Assessment and 1/2 hour of treatment: £150. Further treatments are £100 per session.
