Sclerotherapy Vein Removal

All skin types are suitable for sclerotherapy, your vein eligibility and medical history will be discussed in your personalised consultation to determine if this treatment is the right treatment for you.

Sclerotherapy is for the treatment of leg veins.

Immediately after the treatment the veins will appear to be a little swollen. Over the next coming weeks, the veins will gradually break down and visibility of them will become lessened.

After the treatment, the area will be a little bruised with some mild redness. However, you will see a gradual improvement as the damaged veins absorb into the blood stream. Most clients will see dramatic results after two months of treatments.

Each session can take between 30 and 60 minutes. Immediately after the treatment you will see mild redness and perhaps a bruise on the treated area. The vein will then start to fade after a few weeks. It’s highly effective but, in some cases, you may have to repeat the procedure in four to six weeks. The optimal results are usually seen after two months. Once you’ve had the recommended number of treatments, you can expect to see 60-80% improvement. However, some people see significantly better results:

Sclerotherapy will remove unsightly veins on the legs. Great if you are conscious of your legs in the summer or when wearing skirts and dresses. If treated when the veins are first visible, it can prevent them becoming worse with age and more difficult to remove successfully.

Please don’t drink any alcohol during the 24 hours before your treatment. We also advise that you avoid using aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs a couple of days before your treatment (unless they are taken for a chronic medical condition). Avoiding these medications will reduce your risk of bruising at the point of injection. Ask your medical practitioner if you have any concerns.

That will depend on the extent of your veins. 1-6 treatments is most common. The treatments will be carried out every 12 weeks on the same area/veins if required.

In your consultation, the medical practitioner will advise if compression tights/stockings are needed post treatment. These are ideally worn for up to 2 weeks after the treatment, and you will be advised when to wear these during the day and night.

Avoid alcohol post treatments, and when planning your appointment ensure you have no events where the area to be treated will be exposed for 2 – 4 weeks after treatment.

You can resume regularly activity (no strenuous exercise to be done) after your treatment and will be encouraged to walk.

Q: How will I know if the side effects are normal, or something serious has happened?
A: After your treatment, the common effects are mild redness, slight swelling and possible bruising. The treatment area may feel tender to touch and all of these effects are normal, will subside in a few days, but may last up to a week. Each day everything should improve slightly and the area should look more normal and feel better.

It is very uncommon to have any serious side effects, however if you do experience any of the following, please call the clinic immediately, or if after hours, seek help from a GP or A&E:

• swelling that is getting worse as time passes
• increase in pain and getting more severe with time
• skin feeling hot, redness increasing and becoming worse in time
• skin near the treatment area or along the side of the nose looking pale/white or greyish in colour on the day or day after the treatment, and pain increasing in this area
• generally feeling unwell in the days following your treatment

Q: Is it safe to have any treatment if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
A: We do not recommend that you have any injectable treatments if you suspect or can confirm that you are pregnant. We also recommend that you have completely finished breast feeding before returning for your aesthetic treatments.

Q: What can I do to ensure I get the best results from my injectable treatments?
A: Here are a few tips to optimise the outcome of your treatment:

• Avoid having any alcohol the day before your treatment. This will help to minimize the chance of bruising.
• In the week before your treatment, try to avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen or any other type of anti-inflammatory medication as this will also increase your risk of a bruise occurring.
• For Botox – please do not plan to have any other facial treatments (peels, facials, waxing, threading, semi-permanent makeup) for a week following your treatment. It is ok to have these treatments at any time before your Botox visit.
• For Dermal Fillers – please do not plan to have any other skin treatments (peels, facials, microdermabrasion, micro needling) for 1 week prior and 2 weeks after your dermal filler treatment.
• If you have been unwell with a cold virus, cold sore (herpes) or any other skin rash or condition, please phone the clinic to check if you should still attend your appointment. Your general medical health is important, and we are happy to reschedule your aesthetic treatment if necessary.
• After your treatment, please closely follow the aftercare advice given to you by your Medical Injector, and please do not apply anything else to the treatment area, unless previously discussed.

Q: Is there any downtime?
A: You can resume regular activity after your treatment and will be encouraged to walk to increase blood circulation. You will also have to wear support hosiery to ‘compress’ the treated vessels. You will be given a personal set of aftercare instructions.

Q: How do I know if I’m suitable?
A: Our clinical professionals will talk through any concerns with you. They’ll agree if Sclerotherapy will provide you with the results you desire. Eligibility will depend on age. We can only treat clients who are 18 and over, and we’ll consider any allergies, whether you’re pregnant and your medical history.

Q: How is it different from other treatments?
A: Sclerotherapy works on the deeper, ‘feeder veins’. That means it deals with the cause of the smaller and more superficial veins – often the main aesthetic concern. If you only treat the more superficial veins with laser and IPL treatments, they are likely to return quickly. It always makes sense to treat the cause.

Q: Is it safe?
A: Sclerotherapy can only be performed by a medical injector who has been specifically trained in the treatment. All our clinical staff are trained to administer aesthetic injections and are registered with their respective governing and regulatory bodies. They include the NMC, GMC and GDC.

Q: What will the treatment feel like?
A: It may sting a little during the treatment. Afterwards, it can feel warm and it’s common to experience mild itchiness.