Get your legs prepped for summer

Many of us get through winter with our woolly tights, trousers and jeans not even really taking notice of the status of our legs. But all it takes is one big event – a wedding, a party or even a work night out and all of a sudden they become all we can focus on.
Those veins that you have been hiding away since last summer unfortunately haven’t magically disappeared over the winter period but instead they are still there with no signs of fading any time soon.

Now is the perfect time of the year to consider leg vein treatment in order for your legs to be ready for the big reveal once the sun starts to make a regular appearance.

What vein do I have and what treatment do I need?

Thread Veins (Telangiectasia)

Thread veins are also known as spider veins due to their web-like appearance.
Nearly all of us will develop thread veins as we age and you may be surprised to know that one in five women in their 20s will have thread veins. Thread veins can occur anywhere on the body but are most common on the leg and face. Thread veins are actually tiny blood vessels that run close to the surface of the skin. They are most often red in colour but sometimes show up as purple and have a ‘wiggly line’-like appearance.

There is no apparent cause for thread veins; they just develop as we age. Some factors that can cause them to appear include pregnancy, hormonal changes, sunbathing, exposure to extreme temperatures, cortico-steroid medication and radiotherapy exposure.
Smaller thread veins are generally much easier to treat so early treatment and prevention is key before they start to get more difficult later on in life.

Here at The Private Clinic there are several treatments available for thread veins depending where they are located on the body.

• CoolGlide is a vascular laser system designed to treat thread veins. The laser delivers pulses of light energy which causes the blood inside the vein to thicken and destroy the vessel which is then absorbed naturally by your body. The blood flow is then redirected into deeper lying veins so the problem should not re-occur once treated. Cutera CoolGlide treatment is suitable for the thread veins on the legs, facial thread veins and under eye veins.
• Sclerotherapy involves injecting the visible capillaries with a sclerosing agent which causes the vein walls to become sticky. Once the vein walls are sticky the blood is unable to pass through meaning the vessel will then collapse and be absorbed naturally by your body. Sclerotherapy is suitable for thread veins on the legs.
• IPL Photorejuvenation – Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment is used on facial thread veins. It is a non-invasive treatment that uses intense pulsed light to heat up the veins causing them to then collapse and be naturally absorbed by the body.

Thread veins treatments are available at; London Harley Street, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Buckinghamshire and Northampton

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged and swollen veins that are often raised above the skin. They can be red, blue or skin coloured. They may also appear lumpy or twisted in appearance. They are most commonly seen on the legs and ankles but can also appear anywhere on your body.
Varicose veins are caused when the small valves within the veins become weak or damaged and stop working. When damaged, blood is able to flow backwards and collect in the vein causing the vein to become swollen.

The reasons why the valves become damaged and cause varicose veins is still unknown and many people get varicose veins for no obvious reason. Factors that can increase your likelihood of developing varicose veins include pregnancy, weight gain and old age.
In some cases varicose veins are actually an indication that something else might be wrong which is why during our consultations we make sure we do a full check-up to establish there are no underlying conditions before we start treatment.

Here at The Private Clinic there are a range of treatments available for varicose veins, your vascular surgeon will explain your options to you and help you decide which treatment is best for you.

• EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) is performed under a local anaesthetic. The treatment involves laser energy being delivered through a probe which is inserted through a small incision near the knee. The short pulses of energy seal the damaged valve resulting in blood not being able to flow through it anymore which eventually means the vein walls will collapse.
• VenaSeal is a great treatment for patients with a needle phobia as it only requires a single injection per vein. VenaSeal uses medical grade glue which is dispersed through the affected varicose veins using a small catheter and it works to seal and close the veins whilst re-routing the blood to healthier veins.
• Sclerotherapy is generally only used for smaller veins but for larger veins like varicose veins a foam version is used. The foam sclerotherapy process is fairly similar to the liquid sclerotherapy technique however the sclerosing agent is instead mixed with gas to create foam. Once a local anaesthetic has been applied the foam is then injected into the vein but the needle is carefully monitored using ultrasound imaging to ensure it is in the right place. The air within the foam is quickly absorbed by the veins naturally but it leaves the sclerosing agent to be able to treat the veins.
• Phlebectomy is performed under local anaesthetic and it involves making a small incision next to the vein to allow a small hook entry which then grasps the vein and removes it. The incisions are very small so no stitches are required, and you have generally a very quick recovery time.

We have specialist varicose vein clinics with nationwide locations in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bournemouth and Northampton.

If you are unsure which treatment or even what veins you have, then we suggest coming in for a surgeon-led consultation which includes a free ultrasound scan worth over £350 to ensure that your varicose veins are examined with the utmost accuracy and your treatment is tailored to you.

Related information: Treating Leg Veins

Vein Treatment at The Private Clinic

Our Consultant Vascular Surgeons have helped thousands of people regain their confidence whilst avoiding the health issues associated with varicose veins.

Expert Vascular Surgeons

Why choose The Private Clinic for Varicose Vein Treatment?

• The least invasive method for varicose veins and thread veins removal treatment for your legs, body and face.
• Our Consultant vascular surgeons are pioneers in EVLA(Endovenous Laser Ablation) and have treated thousands of patients.
• No lengthy downtime or recovery required.
• The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Gold Standard for treatment of Varicose Veins findings show that the success rate after five years for EVLA is 95.4%.
• A consultation with one of our Consultant Vascular Surgeons costs £150, including a free ultrasound scan of your legs (usually priced between £350 and £450 at most clinics and private hospitals).
• We focus on the underlying cause of your veins and you will only see a Consultant Vascular surgeon for varicose veins.
• We have treated thousands of patients who have regained their confidence whilst avoiding health issues.
• Treatment takes one hour, you can go home shortly after being treated.
• Owing to our success, we have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends.
• We have carried out over 7,000 procedures in treating Veins.

Helpful Links

• View our varicose vein before and after photos.
• View our thread vein before and after photos
• Read our extensive varicose vein FAQs.
• Read our extensive thread vein FAQs.
• Take a look at our varicose vein patient stories.
• Find out more in our varicose vein blogs.
• Find out more in our thread spider vein blogs.
• Download our varicose veins treatment brochure
• Our clinics are located nationwide: London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Northampton and Bournemouth.

Get in touch

If you would like to find out more about vein treatments or to arrange a consultation, please call us on 0333 920 2471 or you use our online varicose vein contact form.