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Thread Vein (Spider Vein) Treatment at Vale Healthcare

What are thread veins?

Thread veins, which are often known as ‘spider veins’, are small veins which appear in the skin and are usually of red / blueish colour. They often are associated with varicose veins, but can often occur without the presence of varicose veins.

Thread veins are very common, and whilst there are usually no ‘symptoms’ of thread veins, they are visible and people often dislike their appearance and therefore seek treatment.

What causes thread veins?

Genetic factors contribute towards the development of thread veins, as do hormonal factors. They often appear during pregnancy (but will usually fade afterwards), and women who have been pregnant several times may experience longer lasting thread veins. Other factors which can cause thread veins include exposure to the sun and radiation, including following radiotherapy treatment.

What treatment options are available for thread veins?

As thread veins are usually painless, and without symptom, they are primarily treated for cosmetic reasons. Your consultant will firstly ascertain as to whether they are associated with varicose veins using an ultrasound scan. This is an important step in deciding if your thread veins can be treated successfully. If associated with varicose veins, the varicose vein will usually need to be treated first. If the thread veins are not associated with any varicose veins then they can usually be treated with sclerotherapy.

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a treatment process for thread veins where the veins are injected using a very fine needle. The injection causes the lining of the veins to swell so that blood can no longer flow through them, and they therefore disappear. This procedure does not harm circulation.

Following the treatment you will be required to wear a support stocking, this will aid the closing of the vein.

At Vale Healthcare we want to ensure that you have accurate expectations of your treatment. Sclerotherapy will not necessarily be able to remove every thread vein nor result in perfectly smooth legs. It is however, proven to show substantial improvement, and is a well known and respected treatment method. It is also important to note that the treatment of thread veins will help only the targeted area/s, and will not prevent you from re-developing thread veins in different areas.

More information about the procedure…

Sclerotherapy treatment usually takes around 30-40 minutes, and is a non surgical treatment usually performed within the outpatient clinic environment (not in theatre). The number of treatment sessions you will require will depend on the area to be treated but each treatment area usually requires several courses of injections, each several weeks apart.

As with any procedure, there are side effects that your consultant will discuss with you prior to any treatment. These include bruising, swelling and blistering of the treatment area, and brown discolouration of the skin. These side effects are not permanent and can be treated.

Sclerotherapy is not usually covered by medical insurance, so is usually a treatment that patients self-pay for.