Video
Voiceover:
April came to see Dr Pixie about unsightly thread veins on her leg.
Dr Pixie:
So, April, if you want to roll up the trousers for me, and let’s have a look.
Voiceover:
She has been referred to Mr Constantinos Kyriakides for a series of injections that will relieve her problem.
Mr Kyriakides:
The plan today is to proceed with what is known as micro-injection sclerotherapy, which is the use of a special chemical that is injected in the vein and causes the vein to effectively shrivel up, and then it disappears.
Mr Kyriakides:
Do you see this?
April:
Yeah.
Mr Kyriakides:
Are you impressed?
April:
Yeah. Wow.
Mr Kyriakides:
How about this one? Now you see how the…
April:
Oh, it’s making me fill up.
Mr Kyriakides:
Really?
April:
Sorry.
Mr Kyriakides:
That’s, that’s okay. I know you’ve suffered with this for a while now.
April:
It just looks…so different. It’s amazing.
Voiceover:
After the first session of treatment, the intricate technique has been successful.
Mr Kyriakides:
Now, what we used today was Fibro-Vein, and, and what it does, it actually inflames the inside wall of the vein and makes the vein effectively clot off or close. And because the vein is then, for lack of a better term, dead, it gets absorbed and then disappears from the skin or the underlying tissue, and no longer shows.
Voiceover:
During the sclerotherapy procedure, Mr Kyriakides has discovered that she has a more serious underlying problem in her left leg, and has asked her to come back for further treatment.
Mr Kyriakides:
I found that the valves in the main superficial vein in the leg were not functioning, uh, properly.
Voiceover:
This means that she will need to undergo a procedure called endovenous laser ablation, under local anaesthetic, to close off the leaking vein.
Mr Kyriakides:
You’ve got a couple of veins down here…okay, which are stemming from the main vein, which are slightly too big to, uh, to inject, so what I’m going to do is, I’m going to mark them, and I’m just going to take them out under the same local anaesthetic, okay?
Voiceover:
Mr Kyriakides uses an ultrasound scanner to locate the veins feeding into the leg.
Mr Kyriakides:
So now what I’m looking at is the junction of the vein that’s causing the leak to the main vein. So this is how far up I want to be in terms of sealing the vein. And we’re going to be working up here, and we’re going to be working down here. But the laser fibre is going to thread up all the way to the top of the groin, and that’s where I’m going to be marking up there, the junction. So the laser fibre, when it starts working, it will seal up the vein, pardon me, from the top, all the way down to where it comes out, okay? So that is why we no longer need to be, with this technique, we no longer need to be, um, making a cut in the groin.
Mr Kyriakides:
Your left leg, we know we’ve got two types of problems. One is the visible veins that you have under the skin, but also the vein that runs underneath the skin that’s a bit deeper, visible with ultrasound, which is effectively leaky. The valves in that vein are leaky. So what is happening is that the blood is pooling down into the leg as opposed to going upwards, and that is the reason you are getting the more superficial veins in the skin visible. So what I’ve done so far is to mark the course of the vein, the offending vein. And we’ll prep the leg, I’ve put some Emla cream, otherwise known as magic cream, on the skin, and what that does is it numbs the skin a little bit, because this procedure does involve a handful of injections through the skin.
Voiceover:
Then he uses the ultrasound scanner to work out an entry point for the laser fibre, and inserts a sheath into the vein.
April:
I feel fine so far, it’s not…
Mr Kyriakides:
It’s meant to feel good.
April:
Yeah, of course! It’s not uncomfortable, it’s not painful, it’s fine.
Mr Kyriakides:
This is the laser fibre, okay, this whole thing is the laser fibre that I will be running inside that sheath I showed you. And the tip of the laser fibre, this bit here, is the active bit, that’s the bit that actually seals off the vein. Okay, it’s got a little light that guides us through as we work, and you can see it kind of running up the skin, underneath the skin.
Voiceover:
A fluid buffer is then put down the vein to help numb the inside of the leg…
Mr Kyriakides:
The fluid is going in now.
Voiceover:
...and compresses the vein onto the laser fibre, giving it a better contact and also helps to reduce bruising.
Mr Kyriakides:
How are you doing, April?
April:
Okay, I’m fine.
Mr Kyriakides:
Once the laser is fired, I slowly pull back the laser fibre at a set rate, and that seals off the vein, uh, along its course.
Voiceover:
To clear up the smaller veins, Mr Kyriakides performs a procedure called a phlebectomy.
Mr Kyriakides:
A phlebectomy is a procedure whereby one punctures the skin over the offending vein, and then uses a crochet hook to pull the vein out—effectively just rip it out. All finished.
Voiceover:
Nine weeks later, April is back to update Dr Pixie on her progress.
Dr Pixie:
Let’s see these legs! They’re pretty good, aren’t they?
April:
Yeah, and I think once the bruising’s gone, it’ll be even better.
Dr Pixie:
All around here you were covered in these very very fine veins, and it’s just gone.
April:
Yup.
Dr Pixie:
It’s amazing, isn’t it? It just disappeared!
April:
Yeah, yeah, it looks really good.
Dr Pixie:
So there’s lots of things you can do now, that you couldn’t do, before.
April:
I’m looking forward to going on holiday and trying my new legs out.
Dr Pixie:
For the first time in ten years.
April:
Yeah.
Dr Pixie:
Good girl.
April:
Yeah.
Dr Pixie:
So, April, enjoy being pain-free and most of all, enjoy the summer.
April:
I will do, thank you.
Dr Pixie:
You’re very welcome.
April:
Thank you.
April appears in the EB clinic suffering from unsightly thread veins that she has had for ten years. Dr Pixie sends April to see vascular specialist Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, who carries out a course of micro injection schlerotherapy to which we see some instantaneous results leaving April a tad emotional. However in the process it is discovered that April’s veins in her left leg are not working as they should and April undergoes further procedures under local anaesthetic to seal a leaking vein and pull out some small visible ones. 9 weeks later April returns to visit Dr Pixie to show off her new legs that are a marked improvement enabling April to finally go out in a skirt after ten long years.
Patient Name: April Nicklin
Condition: Thread Veins
Specialist: Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, Consultant Vascular surgeon
Hospital: The Private Clinic
Length of procedure: 2 × 1 hour Sclerotherapy sessions followed by approx 1 hour of surgery
Yes
NoComments and Questions
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Hi,I am 35 and have had bad thread, spider veins on my legs for 15 years.I have tried the injections - no results and been for a private consulation - didnt inspire me. I have just read all the comments and its nice to know I am not the only one who doesnt enjoy the summer, looks at other ladies legs with green eyed envy and finds the walk from the changing room to the swimming pool a nightmare, I really thought it was just me! However, rather than let it beat me and get me down I take the attitued of being grateful I have legs. I would much rather have my grim legs than none at all. When I do have to expose them I try to hold my head high, think positive and remember its whats inside that makes people beautiful too.
This sounds awful, and i hope you are getting better now. I really think they should talk more about side effects on embarrassing doctors. I too am considering treatment for spider veins that have with me for 10yrs, I have them on both feet and ankles. Did you see the embarrassing bodies video for a new treatment pioneered by a vascular surgeon who use vein waves and is far superior to sclerotherapy, look at his website for info Dr Newmans clinic, I think its pricey but sounds less troublesome especially for the face if you have thread veins there, they show lots of videos for you to see results and offer the ability to pay in installments.
Hi all. I have had bad thread veins for about 20 years. I am 45 and when I heard about sclerotherapy a few months ago, I thought it was amazing. I read everything I could find on it, also looking for any problems and downsides to it, which were either no results gained, or long time bruising. So having weighed it all up, I found a good private clinic that specialise in it and went ahead. The injections were fine, a couple stung but nothing drastic. I went away very pleased with myself for doing it. Sadly it was short lived. The next morning, i woke to find my leg covered in blisters, I rang the clinic who wanted me to go straight back. They dressed it and said I was having a reaction to the sclerotherapy. To cut a very long story shorter, I then went on to develop a leg ulcer, then another one, both weeping. It is almost three weeks now since the treatment, my ulcers are healing slowly, but I woke sunday to a raging red hot leg, rushed to the out of hours doctors to be told it is an infection, Cellulitis. I was given antibiotics, which I have had for 5 days now and they have done nothing. Today I went back to my doctors who have now given me an even stronger antibiotic to take with the one I already have. My leg has been sore and itching for over two weeks, I cant wear anything that rubs on it, and now the weeping has stopped, the skin is soo dry and tight it feels like an apple skin waiting to burst. Im not to get it wet, or put any cream on it to soften it due to the infection! I have photos of before, straight after, and the days following the treatment, and they are nasty! I had no idea this was a possible side effect. Im sure this works for many people, but for me, its really bad. Had I known this was possible, I would have kept my spider veins.
I had thread veins treated with injections in a private hospital, late 2007. It was quite costly, my legs never truly looked any better. Now 2011 I still have the thread veins and also short dark marks on the many injection sites. I would love to be rid of all, and get my legs out for the summer. SOME RESULTS would have been good for my money!!!
Hello , I'm 18 and I've got really obvious thread veins on my face. I've had them since I was a baby according to my mum. I'm always conscious of them and have tried hiding them but they are really obvious. Lately , I've noticed that I have them on my ribs just under my bra. They are on my legs too but not as bad. I have no idea why they are so obvious and more so in the last year or two. It's really embarrassing because I love swimming but am conscious of the fact that they can be seen. Do you have any idea how to treat them?
Hi everyone, its all sounds so fimiliar broken veins are a nightmare as i have suffered from them for 20 odd years, i am a young 51year old female and i hate the summer time, the only colour tights i can wear is black 70 denier,so i dont bother in the summer as its looks unnatural and makes you sweat.i realy cant put in words how i feel, it makes me feel upset just to talk about it. well i hope the vitamin k cream works please let me know how you get on.
I'm 25 years old and have got thread veins from my ankle to my ribs on my left side. My right leg has them too. I've also got v v vein on both legs. I've been to the doctors they say it's cosmetic. I've been to private clinics they all say different things, I'm confused about the best treatment. This has got me down for years now, I'm slim, look after myself. It's effecting my life so much. I hate summer, I feel like staying in all the time and it is effecting my relationship with my other half. Taking it out on the world and all that! I think about it most days :[
i know how you feel!i am a 38 yr old woman with unsightly thread veins from my ankle to my bum!i have been to the doctors 3 times,but they send you away and say there is nothing they can do!!!!!It actually depresses me and i think about it every day.My marraige is suffering because i don't even want to be naked infront of my husband(of 10 yrs)as i'm so embarassed of my legs!i find myself looking at every woman's legs in the summer and thinking,why me!!!???why not them??what did i do to deserve these horrible disgusting legs!!!I HATE SUMMER!!!The way i see it is that women are supposed to have great boobs,lovely bum or fantaastic legs!!!if yr lucky, you have all 3.As far as i'm concerned i have none of them,i don't feel like a woman at all!!If anyone knows of a good cream for veins,please let me know.xxxxx
Hi, I'm 26 and had laser treatment on the thread veins on my legs about 3 weeks ago now, they haven't improved at all as yet if anything they look worse! Very upsetting. Any advise would be great.
laser treatment had the same effect on my legs. sclerotherapy is the only way, a little painful but so worth it
I'm 26 and have just had hyfrecation treatment on thread veins on my legs in a private clinic which cost me £150. It was quite painful and my legs are still a bit achy but I'm hoping for a good end result.
I have suffered from unsightly thresd veins on both legs for years now. They have got worse over the years and I bnow dread the summer or going on holiday as I cannot face the looks I get when I wear a swimming costume or a skirt. It is really affecting me badly. I have been to my doctor but she said there was no treatmnent for them and I would just have to put up with them. I feel so miserable and spend all my life in trousers or jeans. I cry a lot in the summer when I see other women in preety dresses and have pretty legs on show. Is there any hope for me to get treatment on the NHS? I don't have the money to go private as I imagine it would be quite costly.
I feel exactly the same, like yourself it really depresses me,I feel ugly. I am always in trousers or black tights.I have been to GP and he said no way could it be done on national health.I would love to know how much it would cost,but there is quite a large area on both of my legs.I have tried to cover up with make up, to no avail.Sunbeds don,t cover it up either.
I AM 26 YEARS OLD AND MY FEET ARE PURPLE DUE TO THREAD VEINS I HAVE VERY BAD VEINS IN MY LEGS AND WOULD LIKE TO UNDERGO TREATEMENT BUT I HAVE HEARD ITS VERY EXPENSIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I COULD GO IN BIRMINGHAM TO UNDERGO MICRO INJECTIONS SCHERLOTHERAPY AND HOW MUCH APPROXIMATELY A COURSE OF TREATMENT WOULD COST.
Dear Lucy, I have the same problem very fine network of thread veins on the top of my feet from the ankle to the toes, I am desperate to get rid of them. did you have any luck with yours ? Can you advise me?