Microsclerotherapy is a relatively simple, non-surgical procedure. We use a very fine needle to inject a non-toxic medication (Sclerovein) directly into the vein we want to treat. This irritates the lining of the vessel, causing its walls to stick together and preventing blood from flowing through it. The vein is gradually absorbed by your body, making it much less noticeable or even destroying it altogether.

Microsclerotherapy is the best treatment for thread veins of the body and legs. It will, with time and a number of treatment sessions, dramatically reduce the appearance of unsightly vessels. Eighty percent of patients get a good or very good result. It is not always possible to obliterate every thread vein but it is certainly achievable to decrease the venous appearance of your legs with gradual lightening of the veins. As thread veins can be quite complex, it is important to arrange a consultation for a proper assessment and your subsequent treatment.

Spider veins on the face are better treated with ACP (see ACP FAQs).

Microsclerotherapy is most effective when used on leg veins.

When you come in to the clinic for this treatment, we will inject the sclerosant liquid into your visible veins using ultra-fine needles. During the therapy, you will feel a small needle prick and possibly a mild burning sensation as the sclerosant enters the veins, but any pain is usually minimal.

Immediately after the treatment, you veins may look red and swollen but not painful. You may notice some small areas or blistering or crusting, but these reactions usually resolve within a couple of days.

The results are generally noticeable after three to four weeks, although it may take up to 12 weeks for the outcomes to be fully seen. Your first treatment session will be followed up by a review appointment seven days later and then a recall appointment after six months.

You may need between four to six sessions at least one apart to fully treat a prominent thread vein.

Side effects following microsclerotherapy treatment are rare, but you should always have the treatment through a suitably qualified and experienced medical professional, as recommended by sclerosant manufacturers.

Contraindications for microsclerotherapy include: a known allergy to the sclerosant solution, pregnancy, taking the contraceptive pill, an infection in the treatment area, planned heart surgery, varicose veins caused by pelvic tumours, uncontrolled disease such as diabetes, inability to walk, or serious vascular/circulatory diseases.

You may find that the injection site looks bruised or like an insect bite, or that it feels itchy for approximately two hours after your treatment. In approximately one third of patients, the skin above the treated vein looks slightly brown and discoloured for up to a year after the treatment; it’s also common for a vein to look darker before it starts to break down.

More serious problems such as small ulcers, allergic responses, infections, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and clots in the deep veins (deep vein thrombosis) are possible but rare.

Choosing an experienced practitioner like Dr. Tschoepe who has a proven history of successful treatments is important to minimise the risk of side effects.

We will give you detailed aftercare instructions. Typically, you will have to wear support tights or compression bandages for at least 48 hours after your treatment, which should help to improve its success, and for four weeks after your final treatment, if possible.

You should avoid vigorous exercise, but we will encourage you to walk around as much as possible post-treatment instead of prolonged sitting or standing.

When you are sitting, you should raise your legs as much as you can for the first 24 hours.

In addition, you should avoid alcohol for 24 hours and aspirin for 48 hours.