Dr Michael Sheill – Ten Things You Should Know About Thread Veins

What are thread veins?

Thread veins are tiny veins that appear most commonly on the cheeks, nose and legs. Small thread veins are red, but larger ones are purple in colour. They have many names, including:
spider veins
broken veins (not an accurate name, because they are not actually broken)
capillary veins
Normally, the tiny veins in the skin are invisible, but on occasions they expand and show through the skin.

What causes Thread Veins?

There are many causes of Thread Veins, over exposure to sun, pregnancy, oestrogen treatment, alcohol or prolonged standing. In certain cases Thread Veins may also be inherited. Thread veins can sometimes be a sign of rosacea, a skin condition, or can result from overuse of steroid creams. Thread veins are more obvious after mid-life, when the skin becomes thinner and loses some of its collagen. If you have large visible veins, they could be varicose veins.

Where do the Thread Veins appear?

Thread veins appear mostly on the cheeks, nose and legs.

What treatment is available for Thread Veins?

Dr. Sheill uses two treatments for Thread Veins, Veinwave and Sclerotherapy.

What happens during treatment?

Sclerotherapy involves injecting the vein with a chemical using tiny needles. This makes the walls of the vein stick together.

Veinwave involves making very fine precise, gentle punctures. A thin micro-insulated wire is gently inserted into the unwanted vein. Only tissue cells immediately adjacent to the electrode are affected.

What should I do after the procedure?

Sclerotherapy — After treatment on your legs, you will need to wear compression stockings for 1 week, the vein will disperse naturally over the following 2-3 weeks.

Veinwave — After treatment wash the area a couple of times per day and apply a soothing gel or lotion with aloe. Make-up can be applied after 24 hours.

Does the treatment hurt?

Most people cope well with thread vein treatment, but the larger the vein the more discomfort will be felt. Dr Sheill will give you a topical local anaesthetic cream to apply before starting the procedure.

How many treatments will I need and how long is each treatment?

It depends on the number of veins present. Each treatment lasts for about half an hour

Is Thread Vein removal permanent?

In most cases the same veins will not reoccur, but new veins can appear at other sites over time and require further treatment. Unfortunately, in case of some people, their body has a tendency to produce these unwanted veins and may continue to do so even after treatment.

How much does it cost?

The price varies from person to person depending on the area treated. Dr. Sheill offers treatment for Thread Veins starting from ?120.