In a healthy vein, blood will flow smoothly to the heart and is prevented from flowing backwards by a series of tiny valves. Sometimes these valves will weaken or become damaged, allowing blood to flow backwards and collect in the vein. When this happens, the vein can become swollen and enlarged - causing varicose veins to form.

Sclerotherapy is an injection technique to remove unsightly thread veins. These are smaller skin veins, also referred to as “spider veins” due to their spider web-like appearance.

This can be determined by a full consultation with our Consultant Vascular Surgeon who'll discuss treatment options with you. Generally, sclerotherapy is a cosmetic procedure.

At your consultation, your Vascular Surgeon can tell you how to prepare for your treatment, as well as any aftercare guidelines that you'll need to follow after your treatment.

Your treatment begins with your Consultant cleaning the skin around the affected veins. Using a fine needle, they’ll inject your damaged veins with a sclerosing agent.

The liquid or foam solution causes the walls of your damaged veins to seal shut, so blood is redirected to unaffected veins. Over time, your body absorbs the vein making it less visible and uncomfortable. Depending on the size of the treated vein or veins, you may need up to four treatments.

The procedure is an outpatient treatment and you'll be able to go home immediately afterwards.

The treatment may cause minor stinging, burning or cramping from the treated vein; however, this should only be temporary and usually disappears in a few days. Treatment can occasionally result in an allergic reaction, small skin blisters, prolonged bruising and, very rarely, deep vein thrombosis - also known as DVT - in fewer than one case in 10,000.

If you have any concerns about your treatment or sclerotherapy side effects, you should call the number on your appointment letter.

You should recover quickly after your sclerotherapy treatment, so you’ll be able to carry on with your normal activities almost immediately. It's unlikely you'll need any pain medication.

You should avoid heavy exercise (such as running or walking long distances), or flying, for a week or two while the healing process takes place.  

You may need several sessions to eliminate all the varicose or spider veins depending on the number of veins and how they respond to treatment. The average number of visits is between two and four.

Self-paying patients

If you need treatment, but don’t want to wait, you can access sclerotherapy treatment quickly as a self-pay patient without needing a GP referral. Make an appointment by completing our online form or by calling our Private Patient Team on 01580 363158.

Benenden Health members

If you’re a member of Benenden Health, please contact their member services team on 0300 304 5700 to discuss your treatment. You’ll need a referral from your GP.

NHS patients

You should arrange to see your GP for a referral letter.