Varicose & Thread Vein Treatments

Why do Varicose & Thread Veins Develop?

The heart pumps blood to the extremities via the arteries. Veins channel blood back to the heart and contain one-way valves to ensure the flow of blood is in the one direction.

If the valves are obstructed, or if the veins are subjected to prolonged pressure, they can stretch and not close properly. This can result in the blood travelling back down through the veins towards the feet. Blood can then pool in the veins near the surface of the skin and initially present as thin, spidery looking blue or purple looking thread veins.

Over time, thread veins may enlarge and develop into lumpy appearing varicose veins. These larger veins most commonly occur in the calf muscle area and behind the knees.

Varicose veins may arise due to both environmental and inherited factors. It is a slowly progressive condition that may, over time, result in discomfort, throbbing, leg cramps, skin changes, ankle swelling, ulceration near the ankle and lowered self-confidence.

As a result of advances in medicine and technology, varicose veins can now be treated in a minimally invasive, walk-in, walk-out manner, enabling a swift return to normal activity.

At The Artemis Clinic, all consultations and treatments for varicose veins are with UK Veins Clinic.

They are an established Harley Street practice offering consultations, ultrasound imaging and thread vein treatments from our clinic, with the procedure for varicose veins treatment taking place in Harley Street.

This enables and offers convenience for clients in the South East to use somewhere local for consultations, imaging, thread vein treatments, packages and post treatment reviews, also saving trips into London.

These superficial leg veins typically present as small blue or purple veins in the skin. They often have the appearance of tree branches with short and jagged lines.

All clients seeking to have their thread veins removed are booked in for a veins consultation, this will enable targeted treatment that gives long lasting results.

During the consultation the doctor will take a detailed medical history and conduct a thorough examination of both legs. All thread veins need to be investigated as they may be a result of deeper varicose veins that are hidden beneath the skin.

Clients will be advised on the number of treatments they will likely require and the cost of treatment. Variables are the size and the number of veins to be treated.

If indicated and if time allows, treatment may proceed on the day of the consultation.

Sclerosants such as sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) have been used since 1946 to successfully treat small thread veins. Fine needles are used to inject the sclerosants into the veins which act by destroying the cells in the lining of the veins. The cells become irritated, stick together and ultimately disappear.

A microsclerotherapy treatment session can take anything from 20 – 40 mins.

A 10 min rest after treatment is advised, after which gentle activities may resume.

Depending on the extent of the veins and the response to the initial injections, further treatment may be required, often more than one set of injections is required.

Thread Vein Removal	Prices
Microsclerotherapy, from	£500

For further information regarding leg vein removal at our West Wickham clinic, near Bromley, call 020 8777 1500 or send an email to office@artemisclinic.co.uk.

Dr K. Fraser MB, BS, LRCP, MRCS offers thread vein services and minor surgeries at The Artemis Clinic.

His first GP practise was based in Yorkshire where he remained for over 25 years. During that time his client base was varied with a strong emphasis on all aspects of women’s health.

In 1992 Dr Fraser was one of the founders of the very first secondary referral unit in the country for minor surgeries, enabling GPs to refer directly to a GP hub. This style of referral unit was such a success, it has been replicated on a national scale and is commonly used in the NHS.

Dr Fraser led and performed minor surgeries at this unit for over twenty years before he relocated to the South East. He is now a family GP at Gravel Hill and Parkway and is a member of the Primary Care Dermatology Society. His passion, warmth and dedication to his profession is clear to both his colleagues and patients.