Leg Thread Vein Removal
Put your best leg forward - there is no need to hide your legs away anymore.
At Berkshire Skin Clinics in Newbury we offer advanced laser treatment for thread vein removal that can remove fine to medium (up to 4mm thick) thread veins on the leg quickly and effectively. Three to four treatments are usually enough to leave your legs free of unsightly broken veins.
Thread or Spider veins
Thread or spider veins can be identified by the distended red and blue blood vessels just below the skin’s surface. They may appear as tiny blemishes or can cover large areas and look like bruising or inflammation of the skin which can make the patient particularly self-conscious. Most often they are found around the outer thigh and inner knee area and can appear on the calves and ankles as well as on the face, in which case you should refer to details of our laser treatments for facial thread veins and redness. How and why such veins occur is unknown but they are most often an inherited condition.
How are thread veins treated?
Both Intense Pulse Light and laser systems emit light that is readily absorbed by blood vessels, heating them to point where they are destroyed. Following treatment, the vessels quickly clear as they are reabsorbed by the body, leaving little or no trace of the original lesion.
For Intense Pulsed Light treatment a thin layer of chilled gel is applied to the skin to aid light absorption by the vessel. The light is then pulsed over the entire area to be treated. The chilled gel is removed and the area cooled. A similar process is carried out for laser treatment except the chilled gel is not required. During the treatment, protective eyewear is worn.
How many treatments are necessary?
Typically three to four treatments are needed for maximum results, though small lesions may clear in just a single session. Repeat sessions are spaced every four to six weeks.
How long do the results last?
Immediately after treatment some thread veins will disappear but may re-occur a few days later, but be less visible. With further treatment these vessels will disappear and are not likely to reoccur. Maintenance sessions may not be required for several years as results are long-lasting.
What does the thread vein treatment feel like?
Treatment is mildly uncomfortable but there is no need for anaesthesia and the procedure is actually quite quick. Sensations vary but most people describe it as a very quick, hot pin-prick.