Treatment
What is microsclerotherapy and how does it work?
Microsclerotherapy is a technique of injecting thread or spider veins with a special substance known as a “sclerosant” that causes swelling in the vein’s wall.
If the vein is small enough, the swelling will destroy the vein over several weeks, making it much less noticeable or even invisible.
Microsclerotherapy is normally used for the treatment of leg thread veins and is rarely used for the treatment of facial veins owing to the small possibility of scarring that can occur.
The sclerosant used is usually a solution known as sodium tetradecyl sulphate.
What happens during the treatment and how long will it take to recover?
The first time you visit a clinic, a detailed discussion with a practitioner should clearly highlight your expectations of the cosmetic effect from this treatment. The practitioner should then be able to tell you if this is how they see the treatment working for you. If your expectations and theirs do not match each other, do not proceed until you are entirely happy with what they are telling you.
The practitioner may then take a medical history to make sure that there are no reasons why you are not suited to be treated with microsclerotherapy. Then you would normally be asked to sign a consent form, which means that you have understood what the treatment may do, and the potential side effects.
Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner that can be used as a “before and after” comparison to show you how successful your treatment has been.
All this may happen in your first visit. If you are happy to proceed further, the practitioner may also go ahead with your first treatment at this time. Equally, you may decide to keep your treatment separate from the necessary “paperwork” and not begin the procedure until your next consultation.
The procedure
There is usually minimal or no discomfort during microsclerotherapy injections due to the size of the needle and the superficial injection technique.
The solutions used may differ in strength slightly depending on the size of the vessel to be injected. Your physician will decide which solution is best for your particular case.
Following injections, a swab may be taped over the treated area, and often a special bandage and compression stocking is applied which may be worn for several days to help assist shrinkage of the thread veins.
Repeat procedures
A single blood vessel may have to be injected more than once, depending on its size.
Repeat injection sessions can be scheduled one week later, but it is better to wait one month between treatments.
In practice, most patients require between 2 and 6 treatments at 4 to 8 week intervals.
It is common for around 75 percent or more of your veins to vanish, but you should be aware that 100 percent disappearance of all veins is rare.
Recovery time
The whole treatment should usually take no longer than half an hour or so – depending on how many veins require treatment.
You can normally drive immediately and go about your usual daily activities following this treatment.
