Video
Voiceover: Pauline came to see Dr Pixie concerned about an abundance of small red veins on her face.
Dr Pixie: When you stretch the skin out they are very apparent, they’re like little spiders. They are what we call Telangiectasia.
Voiceover: Today she’s come to see vascular surgeon, Dr Brian Newman, to see if he can help clear them up.
Dr Brian: Now there you can see these very big veins on the side of your nose and then you’ve got these generalised veins on your cheek. Now, when you look at the veins on your cheek you can see the main vein and very fine branches in the background, it’s just a little bit pink. Now here you’ve got the same on your chin but more pink there and this cheeks the same. These veins are almost certainly caused because of a blockage in the sweat gland. Now, what’s happening is you have a sweat gland and there’s the surface of your skin. Whenever you block up a gland you get a low grade infection. And when you get an infection the area goes red so you get lots of little blood vessels developing and then over a period of time, because that infection isn’t getting any better, those little blood vessels can’t cope and bigger ones develop. Now, you’re treating this yourself and you’re doing what most patients do, and you’ve treated it by covering it up. Of course you put your make up on and that blocks that up a bit more. And the more you block that up the more red it becomes.
Pauline: Is that why it’s getting worse?
Dr Brian: Yeah. Now the good news is we can get rid of all these big veins and that’s fortunately very easy to do. And the way we do that is to use a very, very fine probe, there it is there, can you see that?
Pauline: I can, yeah.
Dr Brian: It’s heated up for a split second and we’re going to run along each one of those veins and the veins will just go.
Pauline: Is it painful?
Dr Brian: No, it feels like a hair being pulled out.
Pauline: Oh, good.
Dr Brian: I‘m going to start on your cheek. The sensations that, alright?
Pauline: Yeah fine.
Dr Brian: Can you cope with that?
Pauline: Yes.
Dr Brian: That wasn’t worth being worried about was it? I’m going to go through these quite quickly now and that stops any swelling.
Voiceover: Dr Newman employs a pioneering procedure called micro-thermocoagulation. A precision needle is inserted into the skin and high frequency microwave energy is passed down to heat the vein. This kills the vein which allows it to fade and disappear completely.
Dr Brian: I’m going about a thousandth of an inch under the skins surface. And this probe is (three thousandths of an inch) so it’s very, very fine. So we’re just going sub-epidermal. We’re going to do your nose now. It’s a little bit more uncomfortable just on the side of your nose. So, we’re going to just run along these veins and these big veins are just disappearing. How long have you had these ones for? Years?
Pauline: Years.
Dr Brian: Well, they’re just gone in a few seconds. They’ve disappeared.
Pauline: Thank you.
Dr Brian: Now, I’m just going to do the big vein going into your nose, I’m going to pull quite hard on your nose here.
Voiceover: When administered properly the treatment should not leave any scarring or pigmentation on the skin.
Dr Brian: And this side and then we’re finished. Good.
Voiceover: And now Pauline’s back at the clinic to show Dr Pixie the results.
Dr Pixie: You are like a new lady.
Pauline: Thank you.
Dr Pixie: When we met you were having these big problems with all your thread veins on your face and I think you were always worried that people thought you were either drinking or you were doing something, that you were causing the problem yourself. Now, what’s happened to you? They’re all gone.
Pauline: Well, I’ve been to see Dr Newman.
Dr Pixie: Right.
Pauline: And I had the treatment with him and it was fantastic.
Dr Pixie: Although laser is quite a common treatment for this, you actually went and you were micro waved effectively.
Pauline: That’s right.
Dr Pixie: Was it painful?
Pauline: Not really, it was almost pain free.
Dr Pixie: Almost pain free.
Pauline: It was just a little bit red afterwards.
Dr Pixie: And then that fades after a couple of days?
Pauline: Yes, yes.
Dr Pixie: Pauline, can I just get you to slip your glasses off to have a look at these.
Pauline: Of course.
Dr Pixie: Now, your worst areas were all around here and quite a bit here on the side of the nose. And then I remember on the tip of the nose and underneath the nose was a bit of a problem as well wasn’t it?
Pauline: Mmmm.
Dr Pixie: But it’s great, it looks fantastic.
Pauline: Yeah, it’s just been a brilliant result for me.
Dr Pixie: So with your new glowing beautiful face now, what’s changed? Because you were really self conscious about this.
Pauline: I’ve been out without make up on.
Dr Pixie: But you never went anywhere…
Pauline: I didn’t hang my washing out unless I had makeup on so it does a lot for your self-confidence.
Dr Pixie: Have other people commented on it?
Pauline: Yes, I’ve been accused of having Botox.
Dr Pixie: Have you?
Pauline: I guess we tend to associate these sorts of veins with older ladies don’t we? So, understandably, when they disappear overnight people think you’ve had something done.
Dr Pixie: Fantastic. Well, you look great and we’re glad you’ve got your confidence back.
Pauline: Thank you.
Dr Pixie: Obviously, just to keep your skin looking the way it is you need to really moisturise, keep that moisturisation and remember the sun block. Lovely to see you again.
Pauline: Thank you very much, thank you for your help.
Pauline came to see Dr Pixie concerned by an abundance of small red veins on her face. She’s come to see vascular surgeon, Dr Brian Newman to see if he can help clear them up.
Patient Name: Pauline Carroll
Condition: Thread Veins
Specialist: Dr Brian Newman, Vascular Surgeon
Location: Dr Newman’s Clinic
Length of Operation: Approx 15 minutes
Yes
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where can you get this treatment in the north east and hoe much does it cost
Hi Can anyone recommend a clinic to have my thread veins done in the derbyshire area please,would be prepared to travel to Nottingham area too.
I purchased a special offer of three sessions of veinwave. The therapist did all over my upper legs for the three sessions which included very faint veins (to get the three sessions all done). Unfortunately the treatment made my veins more promenant and my legs now look much worse. I am very upset and my partner and friends agree my legs (which were not that bad) now look worse. The treatment was quite painful and the probe was quite hot. The scabs stayed on my skin for over two weeks and the veins under the scabs looked worse and now four months after my treatment my legs are much worse. I would not recommend this treatment at all.
how much did it cost ???
I paid £110 special offer for the veinwave treatment
I have Thread (Spider Veins) on back of knees and would love to get them out!! I am in the Chelsea area - does any 1 know if NHS or u can buy creams to help
How much does the treatment cost for removal of Thread Veins? also nearest doctor in Harlow, thank you
I know that you can get them removed by laser from a place in Suffolk called Health Count. Done be a nurse who was brill and now they are all gone. It's £99 per session and I only needed 3 goes. Brilliant.
I have had treatment for my thread veins with an Edinburgh based clinic called Skin Solutions. The results have been fantastic, I had previously tried laser treatment but after 6 sessions and lots of scarring I looked for an alternative. Louise Caithness who carries out the procedures is extremely professional and I am delighted with the results after just 2 sessions. I would highly recommend her! www.zestskinsolutions.co.uk
I have also facial thread veins and enquired about the laser treatment with Dr Newmans clinic after seeing the TV programme some time ago. I do not recall anything being mentioned on the programme as well as info. on the Embarrasing Bodies website as regards the laser treatment not available to people suffering from epilepsy in which I do. I have read on other websites that Sclerotherapy, which is another alternative seems to be recomended for use mainly on the body and legs.What other options do I have please?
ive lived with mine most of my life im 44 now, got them on my face and i mean face every where , now on my arms, neck, chest ect i use make up , but im so misearable espe in the summer i hav to where a cardigan or a shrug i get really self cons, a hate them so much please help i also hav had that needle thing 15 min on each cheek but they just came back, they worse in summer obvs as the sun pops them. winter they are there but a bit calmer please help x
Hi, is this procedure not available on the NHS?
is this procedure available in ireland if so where.
i myself suffer from thread veins on my face is there any where i can go and get them done as i am very self constious and as you said in your programe you do feel as if everyone thinks you drink
is this treatment avalable on the nhs for thread veins if not how much does it cost the one that pauline had done.
No i am afraid not, i wish it was.