Microsclerotherapy

Thread veins, or spider veins, are very fine dilated veins lying just beneath the surface of the skin. Heredity has a strong influence in causing them. Hormonal surges as at the onset of periods and during pregnancy also make thread veins appear. In some patient’s thread veins are caused by varicose veins. Microsclerotherapy is a safe and effective treatment to improve the appearance of these veins. It involves injecting a fluid “sclerosant” directly into the lumen of the vein with a very fine needle. This irritates the lining of the veins causing the walls to stick together. Blood stops flowing through the veins, which are then absorbed by the body over a period of a few weeks. The blood is directed back to the deeper veins.

Although harmless, they can cause distress as you may feel self-conscious – particularly if they appear on an exposed part of your body such as the legs. Microsclerotherapy is used to treat small to very small veins on legs.

WHAT SKIN CONDITIONS ARE TREATED

Thread veins / spider veins on the legs

The TREATMENT PROCESS

Step
1

PRIOR TO THE TREATMENT

The first step is to speak to one our medical practitioners from our Bristol or Cardiff clinics. You’ll be able to talk to them about why you’re considering microsclerotherapy treatment, the likely costs, and when you’d like to have the treatment. If you feel ready, we’ll then book you in for your free consultation. At your free consultation, one of our highly trained medical practitioners will discuss in detail about the results you want to achieve. Our clinicians will then guide you through your treatment options. You can discuss every aspect of your treatment with no obligation to go ahead. Our medical practitioners are extremely knowledgeable and highly trained and will happily answer any questions you have. If you feel ready to go ahead, we can book your treatment in for a date and time that suits you

Step
2

TREATMENT

On the day of your treatment, you will be given some more information about your treatment and will also have an opportunity to ask any last-minute questions you may have. Consent forms will also be signed during this appointment. The initial stage involves cleansing of your skin, to ensure we are starting with a clean palate. While you are lying down on a treatment couch, very fine needles are used to inject a solution into the spider veins in the treatment area. The solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing the two opposing sides to seal together. The treatment usually lasts about 45 minutes. The number of injections and product used depends on the response of the veins to the therapy and the number of veins requiring treatment. Compression stockings are applied immediately after the treatment and you will take a brisk 10 min walk immediately after the treatment.

Step
3

POST TREATMENT

You’ll be able to leave the clinic as soon as your treatment has been completed, and you should be fine to go about your normal day-to-day activities. We believe that the highest quality aftercare is just as important as the treatment itself, so we’re here to support you. Aftercare will be explained to you before you leave our clinic and you have the opportunity to ask us anything if you need. If you have any questions or concerns at all, you can always contact Dermalogic Aesthetics at any time.

BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION

MICROSCLEROTHERPY TREATMENTS

Microsclerotherapy

£200

Microsclerotherapy *30 minutes in length per session*

Our Microsclerotherapy treatment is available in Bristol and Cardiff.

Benefits of having this treatment with us:

We are Fully Qualified medical practitioners. Cosmetic procedures like ‘Botox’ are prescription only medicines (POMS) that should only be prescribed and given by a Doctor, Dentist, Nurse Prescriber or Pharmacist Prescriber.
Our team has years of experience in aesthetic treatments. We ensure all treatments are carried out to the highest standards, to achieve optimum results.
We pride ourselves on patient care and experience, therefore, our experienced team will ensure that your visit and treatment is as informative, comfortable and professional as possible
We have very high patient satisfaction. Our patients are very happy with their results resulting in many returning to have additional areas treated. We also have many that recommend friends and family to our clinics.
We are committed to evidence-based practice and use premium products. We use FDA and CE approved products for the treatments.
We are registered with Save Face. This government approved register is the highest level of recognition available for professionals working within aesthetic cosmetic medicine within the UK.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You’ll have the opportunity to ask your medical practitioner any questions as part of your consultation, but to start the ball rolling here are the answers to some that our patients most frequently asked questions.

How does the treatment work?

A dilute irritant solution is injected into the vein using a very fine needle. This damages the vessel lining causing it to close off. The body treats this as damaged tissue which is slowly absorbed over about three months. Sometimes all the thread veins disappear. In rare cases the treatment may not work.

How successful is microsclerotherapy?

The injections are almost painless, and all the thread veins can usually be treated in one half hour session. They look worse to begin with and large vessels may go black. Fading starts after three weeks and it will be three months before the main benefit is seen and improvement continues for a year. For this reason, it is a good idea to plan treatment some time before your holiday. The treatment will last for several years, but other thread veins will often develop over time.

Remember it is not always possible to achieve 100% clearance. We aim for 60-80% improvement in appearance and most of our patients tell us that they’re satisfied with the results they can see between one and four treatments.

How many treatment sessions are needed?

The number of treatments varies and is dependent upon the patient and the extent of the condition, but each session must have a 4-6 week interval. You should budget for up to 4 treatments over a period of 4-12 months, although this will depend on your response to the treatment, with some people achieving 60% to 80% improvement in appearance after just one session. This and other aspects of the treatment will be discussed in more detail at the pre-treatment consultation.

Is microsclerotherapy painful?

This is not a painful procedure. The injections are made superficially with a tiny needle. Some people feel nothing, some little stings. This will vary from person to person.

How long does the treatment take?

In most cases, treatment takes approximately 45 minutes and no recovery time is needed so normal activity can be undertaken immediately afterwards.

What should I do before treatment?

Avoid aspirin, vitamin E and Aloe Vera preparations for at least 10 days. If you also suffer from varicose veins you will need these treated before you undertake sclerotherapy.

What will my legs look like immediately after treatment?

The injections will cause some redness and welts, possibly with irritation. Your legs may look bruised. The veins may also look worse before they look better. Sometimes a darker colour appears under the skin, but by day 10 to 14 you will see an improvement. Within 4 to 6 weeks the veins will look very much as they did before the treatment and the full benefit will be seen after approximately 12 weeks.

Everyone is different. These guides do not define success or failure.

What are the risks?

Allergic reaction – any drug carries a risk of allergic reaction, and it is quite common for there to be some immediate itching and redness at the site of the treatment. This will pass within a few hours. Serious allergic reactions are extremely rare. If the solution irritates tissue surrounding the vein blistering can occur although this is rare. As it heals a scab will form and may leave a small scar.

Will the veins come back?

Sclerotherapy is a treatment for the symptoms rather than a cure for the cause. Other veins may develop, and most people come back for a top up session. You should be aware that you may need treatment on your varicose vein to help eliminate the problem causing thread veins but we can help sort these with a laser treatment.