Sclerotherapy

After sclerotherapy for thread veins on the legs, downtime is minimal but it is important you follow the recommended aftercare to ensure you heal well.

Immediately after treatment you may have mild discomfort, irritation and redness which usually resolves within a few hours. You may also have mild bruising and swelling which resolves within a few days. You will be provided with compression stockings and these must be worn for the first two weeks to ensure optimal results. 

After the procedure you can return to most normal activities but it is advised to avoid vigorous exercise for the first week and to avoid prolonged periods of standing. It is important that you remain active and gentle exercise such as 30 minutes of walking twice per day is advised.

After your treatment we recommend you do not fly short haul (less than 4 hours) for two weeks and long-haul (over 4 hours) for 4 weeks. This is to reduce the risk of developing a DVT (deep-vein thrombosis), which is increased with flying.

The number of sclerotherapy treatments you may need for thread veins on the legs typically ranges from one to three sessions, depending on the extent and severity of the veins being treated. Factors such as the individual’s skin type, the size and location of the veins, and personal response to treatment can influence the total number of sessions required. Each treatment is usually spaced 4-6 weeks apart. During your consultation, our nurse practitioner will evaluate your specific condition and provide personalised recommendations on the number of sclerotherapy treatments needed for optimal results.

Thread vein removal with sclerotherapy can provide long-lasting results; however, it may not be completely permanent. The treated veins typically fade and become less visible, but new thread veins can develop over time due to factors like ageing, genetics, and lifestyle changes. Regular follow-up treatments may be necessary to maintain the desired appearance, but many patients enjoy significant improvement for several years after their initial sclerotherapy sessions.

Some spider veins are predisposed to being removed permanently, but there is no guarantee that other veins or other areas will not pop up. After all, your body is exceptionally resilient and flexible, and your blood continues to blast around your body at speed!

In general, treating most of an affected area is an excellent idea, and we will typically be able to erase 80-90% of problematic veins. That’s also the sort of success rate which turns a blemish into something which is barely noticeable.

It’s common to have patients come back to us within a year or two for other areas that need to be treated. As always, you can reduce the chances of a recurrence with some basic lifestyle choices (stop smoking, drink a little less, and cut your stress levels!)

There are risks associated with every aesthetic treatment. Micro Sclerotherapy, on occasion, can result in ulceration around the site causing a small scar. You can be assured that we make every effort to avoid this. Also, the iron contained in the red blood cells can cause brown staining. In very rare cases, this can be permanent but usually only lasts up to 6 months.

Anybody being treated with blood thinners or anticoagulants should not have sclerotherapy by injection, because this will lead to increased bruising and swelling in the area. 

If, in fact, there are other underlying causes of your spider veins (such as deeper venous issues), then we are likely to reject you as a candidate for this treatment, and point you in the direction of a vascular surgeon, as they will be better placed than an aesthetic clinic to manage your broader clinical needs.

As clinical professionals ourselves, we would rather refer you on than successfully manage the symptoms but not treat the underlying cause.

Of course, the duration of treatment depends on the size of the areas being treated and how many veins are being targeted. As a thumb-in-the-air benchmark,  a Sclerotherapy treatment on both legs will typically take around 30-40 minutes to complete. Whatever questions you may have, please don’t hesitate to ask your Calla Consultant during a no-obligation consultation.