If you’re anything like me, the recent cold weather may have found you trawling through online booking sites in search of next year’s summer holiday. I’m dreaming of sunshine and beaches and blue skies! But if you suffer from thread veins and are already feeling uncomfortable at the thought of wearing swimwear, now is also an excellent time to think about treatment.
What are thread veins?
Thread veins are also known as spider veins. They are tiny veins just under the surface of the skin that have become dilated and appear more prominent. They most often occur on the thighs, and are more likely to appear during hormonal surges, such as during pregnancy.
At The Clinic we treat thread veins with a technique called microsclerotherapy. During microsclerotherapy we use a very fine needle to inject a drug into the thread veins. This drug irritates their lining, causing the walls of the veins to stick together. As blood can no longer flow through the veins, they are no longer visible.
Microsclerotherapy is a very effective method for skin below the level of the heart. Although there is some discomfort – the pain has been likened to a nettle sting – it is short-lived and there is little down-time post treatment.
Why is winter a good time for microsclerotherapy?
Patients must wear compression stockings for three days after microsclerotherapy treatment – an item of clothing definitely better suited to colder weather! Having your treatment during winter also allows plenty of time for repeat visits, should you need to have more than one procedure. We can only treat a maximum area of around three palm sizes in one session: if there is more skin to be treated, a separate appointment will be necessary.
How do I find out more?
If you’d like to find out more, there is lots of information on our Microsclerotherapy page. The first step to receiving treatment is to contact us to book in for a Microsclerotherapy consultation with me. At this consultation, I will take a detailed history, discuss the process in depth, and assess your suitability for treatment. You can also ask me any questions you may have. Please note that no treatment will take place at this initial consultation. If the treatment is suitable for you and you are happy to proceed, your treatment appointment will be booked for a later date.
