Thread Vein Removal
For the removal of thread veins on the face and/or legs.
What are thread veins?
Those of us that suffer with thread veins will know that they are tiny blood vessels which appear as red, purple or bluish veins just under the surface of the skin. Also known as spider or ‘broken’ veins, they form thin lines that look a little like a web or branch. They are not usually painful or harmful but they can significantly affect your confidence.
We develop them when tiny one-way valves inside the veins weaken. In healthy veins, the valves make sure that blood travels forwards towards our heart. When these valves weaken, a small amount of blood flows backwards and accumulates in the vein.
These tiny twisted red blood vessels run close to the surface of the skin and this is why they are so visible. The medical term for them is telangiectasia and they occur in about half of all adults in the UK, according to The British Vein Institute. They are most commonly found on the face, especially around the nose and cheeks, and on the legs.
Whilst they’re not particularly attractive, thread veins aren’t dangerous but they do tend to become larger and increase in number over time. Covering them up can be a real chore, and it can be extremely difficult to adequately cover the larger, darker veins with makeup.
We can safely remove thread veins with a combination of simple and effective treatments to restore you to full confidence.
What causes thread veins?
Whilst there is no obvious single cause of thread veins, we do know that they develop as we age and our blood vessels become less elastic. In addition to this, hormonal changes via pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and menopause can also be contributing factors, as oestrogen can weaken vein valves. It is probably for this reason that women are more prone to thread veins than men. In fact, by the time they reach their 40’s nearly half of all women will be affected by thread veins in some way.
Other factors that appear to cause and worsen thread veins include:
- Excess sun exposure
- Exposure to extreme temperatures – hot and cold
- Alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Certain medications
- Sitting or standing for long periods
- Injury to the area
- Being overweight
- Genetics – there is a tendency for thread veins to run in families
What are the benefits of thread vein removal?
Whilst there is no physical benefit to removing thread veins as they are harmless, many people benefit from a huge positive impact on self-confidence, which is essential for our mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
You may find that having your thread veins removed gives you the confidence to wear a wider variety of clothes, wear less makeup, reveal your legs in the summer or be far less self-conscious in social situations.
Thread vein removal is often far quicker than our clients anticipate too, and many are treated by Dr Jenni during their lunch break. It is non-invasive, non-surgical, there is no downtime and you can carry on with your daily activities immediately after your treatment.
Our team are highly experienced in the removal of thread veins so you can be sure you will be safe in our expert hands.
Treatment Options
We offer two treatment options for thread vein removal at The Dr Jenni Clinic, both of which will be discussed with you during your initial consultation. We may recommend one treatment in particular or we may feel that you will achieve the best results with a combination of both treatment options. The treatment route that you decide upon together will be the one that is best suited to you personally.
Microsclerotherapy is the gold-standard thread vein removal option. It involves a series of small, virtually painless injections given by Dr Jenni directly into your thread veins themselves. These injections cause them to close off, causing the blood to re-route through healthier veins.
Laser thread vein removal is a highly effective method of vein removal, which works by sending brief pulses of laser light directly into the affected veins. The laser light passes safely through the skin and is readily absorbed by the veins in a process called photothermolysis. The damaged veins are gradually dissolved and removed by the body’s immune system, fading over several weeks after treatment and leaving little or no trace of their previous existence.
Is laser thread vein removal safe?
Laser thread vein removal at The Dr Jenni Clinic is very safe. The incredibly advanced laser device that our team uses targets your affected veins only and leaves the skin around them unharmed. In addition to this, you have the benefit of being treated by a highly experienced team, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.
If you do not choose to come to us at The Dr Jenni Clinic for treatment, please take care to choose a provider carefully, making sure you enquire about the quality of the laser device that is used and the qualifications and skills of the person operating it. The lasers used for thread vein removal are very powerful, so it’s extremely important for your safety that you choose a provider who you completely trust. Do check that the practitioner carrying out the treatment has met minimum training requirements and that the clinic achieves important health, safety and hygiene standards.
Does thread vein removal hurt?
Clients who have had both sclerotherapy and laser thread vein removal treatments experience a small amount of temporary discomfort during treatment. During laser treatments, you will feel short moments of heat which our clients describe as being similar to a small rubber band snapping against the skin. This is normal and settles down quickly. During microsclerotherapy, the discomfort is minimal as the needle used is extremely fine.
What to expect after your treatment
Immediately after your treatment, you may notice that the treated area that looks a little raised, but this will soon settle and disappear within a few days. You may experience some redness and a little heat and/or itching in the treated area but this should also settle quickly, especially if you gently apply some aloe vera gel and/or take antihistamine tablets.
We will discuss the self-care measures she advises in the days after treatment.
You will need to protect the treated area from the sun for 3 – 4 weeks; keeping the area covered and regularly applying a sun cream/SPF will help prevent the development of dark spots caused by the sun following treatment.
Please be aware that in some instances thread veins may initially appear worse before they improve. This is completely normal and should not be a cause for concern. Over your course of treatments, you will see your thread veins start to disappear and your skin becoming smoother and blemish-free.
How long does it take to see results?
Small thread veins may disappear immediately after treatment. Larger thread veins will darken, and you’ll likely see them for 1 to 3 months before they are absorbed and disappear completely.
Depending on the size and number of thread veins treated, the number of treatment sessions needed will differ. We often find that some clients see results after one treatment, whereas some need a course of three or more to see optimum results.
Treatments are carried out at 4 – 8 week intervals, so your treatment from start to finish may take up to 4 months in total. It is wise not to book any sun-seeking holidays during this period, unless you plan on keeping the treated area completely covered up, to protect it from UV sensitivity.
Once they have been fully treated, the same thread veins never come back, though sometimes different veins can present in a similar place later. If this occurs, the new thread veins can also be treated.