Microsclerotherapy for thread veins and spider veins on the legs

Thread veins, spider veins, and other little blemishes caused by small veins under the skin can be successfully treated by a technique called microsclerotherapy. This means injecting a substance into the veins which causes them to seal off.

The treatment is done using tiny needles and causes very little discomfort. Treatment of one small vein will often get rid of other nearby veins at the same time.

If there are just a few thread veins on a leg it may be possible to get rid of every single one. If there are lots of thread veins, then this may not be possible. You need to consider the possible results before embarking on treatment.

Microsclerotherapy works better in some people than others, and it is not possible to predict whether the treatment will remove most of your thread veins or whether you will be one of the few people for whom the result will be less effective. The chance of a poor result is small, but it is important to understand that this is a risk before embarking on treatment. A gap of at least one month is recommended between visits so that the effect of each series of injections has a chance to become clear. Improvement can occur for up to three months following treatment.

It is not uncommon for the veins to look worse for the first few weeks after microsclerotherapy. This is because the veins are inflamed and appear darker.

Most patients are happy with the results of treatment. In approximately 5% of patients, the treatment is not effective.