Anyone can suffer with thread (red, spider or broken) veins, and they can appear on any part of the body. Although harmless, they can cause distress as the sufferer often feels self-conscious, particularly if the veins are on an exposed part of the body, such as the legs, which people can see.
Sclerotherapy was developed in the 1920s for the treatment of varicose veins. This was refined for the treatment of thread veins, and this is what we now call microslerotherapy.
Recent advancements in Laser and IPL technology have provided a newer option for thread vein treatment and other vascular lesions.
Even more recently, the use of high frequency microwave energy has become available in the U.K. for the treatment of thread veins. An example of this a machine called the Thermavein which is derived from the Veinwave technology, and it is particularly useful for the treatment of very fine thread veins.
To help you distinguish between thread veins and varicose veins, the following may act as a guideline:
Thread veins
Usually very near the surface of the skin, red, blue, or purple in colour, and less than 1 to 2 mm in diameter.
They are not regarded as a serious medical condition but they can occasionally ache.
Varicose veins
Usually deeper beneath the skin, being skin coloured or bluish - green and more than 2mm in diameter.
They are more serious than thread veins. They can be painful and are a sign of leg pump failure.
Treatment of varicose veins is generally considered to be a medical matter and not one for a cosmetic surgeon and so patients are often referred by their GP to a vascular (vein) specialist. For further information on varicose veins and associated leg pump failure which explains the diagnosis and treatment options, please go to www.veins.co.uk.
If you are considering microwave treatment of thread veins, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the practitioner. Please ask your practitioner about anything you don't understand.