Thread Veins
Thread Veins Treatment / Microsclerotherapy
As many as 20% of 20-year-old women and 50% of 50-year-olds have thread veins. Varicose veins vary in type, size and colour, ranging from fine red ones to larger purple or deeper blue veins. They can occur almost anywhere on the body, but are most commonly found on the face and legs in men and women.
No one really understands why people develop varicose veins, but the main causes seem to be heredity, pregnancy, hormones and minor injuries. They can also be associated with varicose veins and follow on from varicose vein surgery (microsclerotherapy).
Microsclerotherapy is used to treat unwanted thread veins by injecting a non-toxic chemical through a very fine needle directly into the vein.
- This irritates the lining of the vein, causing the walls to stick together and prevent blood flowing through the vessel.
- Over time the blood vessel is gradually absorbed by the body and disappears.
- After several treatments, a 60-90% improvement can be expected.
What happens after thread vein removal treatment?
- Immediately following varicose veins surgery, the treated veins will become red and swollen but not painful.
- The area should be kept away from sunlight.
- The treated veins take up to 4 weeks to disperse naturally in the body before you see the final result and any further treatments can be carried out.
- Usually 3 to 4 courses of injections are required at 4 week intervals. A maintenance session is best performed annually to treat any new veins that develop after treatment.
Plastic Surgeon Dr. Saul Braun operates from the Netcare Rosebank Hospital, situated in the up-market Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg.