Sclerotherapy for thread, spider and varicose veins

Unsightly leg veins can be a problem for millions of men and women, the world over. This problem affects a wide range of age groups, skin types and lifestyles. It is estimated that in many areas over 60 percent of the adult population suffers from varicose veins, thread veins or spider veins. Varicose veins are enlarged vessels that have widened as a result of weakness in the vein wall, which stretches and bulges. Thread veins and spider veins are the small superficial purple or red veins stretching like a web under the skin. These small spider veins and thread veins can also produce symptoms of aching legs, swelling and even pain.

Abnormal leg veins are more common in women who often suffer in silence. But it does not have to be this way. Often the first step is to be aware that there are excellent non-surgical treatments available for treatment of this condition.

Sclerotherapy is the procedure of injection of varicose veins. The veins are injected with a solution called a sclerosant which damages the internal lining of the vein and causes fibrosis within the vein. In time, your own body will then destroy the vein and it will disappear. A variety of solutions are used for this procedure and are available in different concentrations depending on the size of the vein being treated.

Are thread veins and spider veins treated the same way?

No, we use a very fine needle and inject a medicine into these thread veins or spider veins. As these leg veins are very small and needle used is very fine, magnification is required to visualise and accurately inject these veins. This procedure is called microsclerotherapy.

How many sclerotherapy treatments are needed?

It is very variable. Extensive leg veins need multiple treatments, often over a few months before the effect is complete. Even small vessels often required time to resolve. Sometimes a bit of matting or staining surrounds the treated vessels. If there is an untreated underlying problem with the deeper leg veins then very rarely the veins can get worse after treatments. By using a combination approach we can treat the vein and these minor temporary discolouration and offer excellent outcome.

What preparations must I make?

We suggest that you have someone drive you to and from the clinic on your first appointment or sclerotherapy session. It is better to avoid heavy exercise, waxing, excessive alcohol and drugs that affect blood clotting for 1 week after the treatment. In many cases compression stockings will be required for a few days.

COVID or COVID Vaccine-if you had these we suggest waiting at least a month before or after sclerotherapy session to avoid clotting related problems.