Purpose:
To reduce the appearance of thread veins.

The treatment:
The sclerosing solution which is injected into the vein is a prescription only medicine which must be prescribed by a doctor. The injections themselves are currently carried out by doctors, nurses and specially trained beauty therapists.

Microsclerotherapy is an injectable treatment for thread veins.  A doctor prescribes a sclerosing solution which is injected into the thread vein. This injures the cells in the lining of the vein and triggers a healing process.  As the healing occurs the vein fades away. It is most commonly used for thread veins in the legs.

Treatments should last less than an hour, but patients may need up to 4 - 6 treatments at 4 week intervals. 

Immediately after the treatment, the area may look red and a little inflamed but this will resolve within 24 hours. The veins may look worse before they get better.

The results:
Thread veins will appear fainter or, in some cases, disappear. The treatment is not always permanent and results cannot be guaranteed.

The risks:
Brown marks and fine matting of tiny red veins can appear but will usually fade in time. The treatment can cause a temporary, painful inflammation of the vein, but this is rare. If the solution irritates the skin around a vein a scab may form leaving a small scar. More serious complications are extremely rare, but allergic reactions and a clot in the deeper veins have been reported.