Thread veins are tiny veins just beneath the skin that have become enlarged, or dilated. As we age, our skin ages with us, becoming thinner and more susceptible to problems such as thread veins. As the skin gets thinner and more translucent, the blood vessels under the skin show through.

There is no medical issue with thread veins, their appearance will not affect your health, but sometimes it is an indicator of Rosacea. Ordinarily, it is simply a sign of aging. However, many people, particularly women, find them very embarrassing. They often appear on the legs, although they can present themselves on the face too, which often makes patients very self-conscious. Leg veins are sometimes caused by varicose veins, If you have varicose veins, then you should have these treated first before tackling the threadveins.

Thread veins are common as we age, but if you are overweight or you smoke, this seems to increase their chances of appearance. So maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you to avoid the development of thread veins.

There are many methods currently available for the safe removal of thread veins. The treatments below can be used individually, or sometimes collaboratively, and are known to help successfully reduce and remove thread veins.

IPL and ND: YAG Laser

IPL is an Intense Pulsed Light Laser that is used within the cosmetic health industry for many different conditions such as sun damage, hair removal, acne treatment, and of course, thread and varicose vein removal. After it’s successful use on skin conditions, it has now become a tool used for laser hair removal.

IPL works by using specific bandwidths of light which are only absorbed by the threadvein and not by the surrounding skin. The light heats up the vein so that it collapses. Several treatments are often needed for optimal results.

ND:YAG Laser technology has many medical and non-medical uses. Within the field of cosmetic medicine, it is used for things such as laser hair removal and also for treating spider and thread veins. The laser works in similar ways to the IPL but is much more specific. Again, several treatments are often needed.

There is a small risk of scarring or skin colour changes with lasers or IPL but in most cases, treatments are extremely successful.

Sclerotherapy

This treatment works by injecting a tiny amount of medicine directly into the veins that are being treated. The drug causes the walls of the vein to stick together and so over time the vein dies away. Several treatments are often needed over 6 months. Side effects include the possibility of developing a bruise over the areas which can last for 9 months.

The NHS views the treatment of thread veins as a ‘cosmetic’ and not a medical procedure. This being the case, they are not available through your doctor. This means seeking out a private clinic or hospital is the only option for removing the unsightly presence of thread veins.

If you’re looking to remove the embarrassing presence of thread veins, Riverbanks Clinic has the latest range of treatments. For a consultation with an experienced cosmetic specialist, contact Riverbanks Clinic today.

Patients are opting for less radical cosmetic treatments in order to reduce the time taken off work to recover due to fear of losing their jobs in the recession. Dr Ravi Jain Medical Director of award-winning Riverbanks Clinic explains about the top 20 treatments that you can now do in your lunch hour.

1) Frown reducing treatment with Botox - There are two types of ‘frown’ lines commonly present between the eyebrows: those that only appear with expression (dynamic), and those that are present all the time (static).Dynamic eyebrow lines can be treated with muscle-relaxing injections such as botox, to achieve a subtle, natural look. By reducing the strength of the dynamic lines caused with expression, the static lines gradually fade over time; the weaker the expression the faster your static lines will fade (this subtle balancing act is discussed in full at your consultation to achieve the effect you desire).

2) Botox brow lift - Botox is used to improve the overall shape of your eyebrow. By generating a very subtle change (as little as a few millimetres), a noticeable, natural improvement to your appearance can be made.

3) Y-lift – cheek filling with dermal fillers - Dermal fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm Ultra can take years off someone’s face in under an hour and there is no downtime. Fillers can restore volume to cheeks, folds, creases and cheeks and lips and restore that triangle of youth.

4) Lip enhancements - The upper lip can be gently treated with ‘dots’ of anti-wrinkle dermal fillers or Botox, for an instantly more luscious look. Results are totally natural, lasting between 6-9 months with dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvéderm® Ultra, and 3 – 4 months with Botox.

5) Crow’s feet - Crows’ Feet are the lines and wrinkles around the outside of the eye, often present when you smile or squint (dynamic).As we age, or succumb to the effects of sun damage or smoking, these lines become more permanent (static). Dynamic crows’ feet are best treated with muscle-relaxing injections such as botox. By reducing the strength of the wrinkles caused by expression, your static lines gradually fade over time; the weaker your expression, the faster your static lines fade.

6) Macrolane breast augmentation - Macrolane, is an injectable breast implant which can boost a woman’s bust the typical boost is from an A to a B or a B to a C.

7) Sclerotherapy of threadveins - Sclerotherapy is best for treating thread veins ON THE LEGS. Using a fine needle, a sclerosing solution is injected, making vein walls stick together and close off. Compression stockings are worn for a week and treated vessels gradually fade. Three or four treatments are often needed, six weeks apart. Sclerotherapy is available at clinics nationwide. At Riverbanks Clinic, the cost per session starts at £200

8) IPL for Roseaca and sun damage - The signs and effects of Rosacea can be significantly reduced, using a combination of Priori Advanced AHA skin products including non-invasive IPL laser treatment. IPL is also very good for sun damage as the darker areas of sun damage absorb the intense light. After a few days they darken and the top layers crust and fall off. On average between 4-6 treatments may be required. There may be some mild redness for up to 24 hours. Each treatment is only mildly uncomfortable and lasts just a few minutes.

9) Hand rejuvenation with Radiesse - Radiesse, which works by stimulating the skin to encourage collagen to re-grow, can also be used for instant hand wrinkle-reducing results. Some local anaesthetic is mixed into the Radiesse and then injected into the back of the hands. Between 1 to 4 injections may be required per hand, and the procedure is very comfortable. Massage is then applied by the doctor afterwards and then you have instant hand rejuvenation. Results are FANTASTIC, and patients report back high rates of satisfaction. The effects last about 1 year so an annual top up is required.

10) Lift those lines with dermal fillers - Dermal fillers work to mimic the skin’s production of collagen to ‘plump up’ and fill out lines or depressions in the skin, or hollows in areas such as the cheeks, for a fresher, more toned and youthful appearance. This improvement in overall skin surface quality acts to re-elasticate the contours of the face, for a non-surgical ‘lift’ that is highly effective, but nonetheless subtle and natural.

11) Diamondtome Microdermabrasion with Omnilux phototherapy – This stimulates collagen production to promote the growth of healthy new cells. There is no downtime making this an ideal quick skin pick-me-up.

12) Treat excessive sweating with Botox - Botox injections have been used with almost 100% success to treat Hyperhidrosis for several years now. On average the effects last for 6 months.

13) Relieve tension headaches with Botox – Botox has been shown to be a very effective treatment for tension headaches and neck stiffness. The botox is injected in to the pain areas with a very fine needle and after a few days, the muscles will start to relax and so relieve the tension and thus the pain. Usually require about 2  treatments a year.

14) Mole/skin tag removal – get rid of those unsightly skin tags /moles with simple laser surgery. Wounds heal in a few days and the procedure can easily be fitted into your lunch hour.

15) Tummy tightening with Accent Spa RF - Accent Spa RF can give instant skin tighteninng with absolutely no downtime. A course of 4 -6 weeks is usually required for the face and takes about an hour each time.

16) Painless laser hair removal - Usually between 4-8 sessions will be required on fair skin and dark hair. Permanent removal is now considered not to be possible with ANY system. It’s more like Permanent Hair reduction with maybe 1 top-up treatment a year with the gap getting bigger thereafter.

17) Lift those mouth corners with Botox & dermal fillers - Lip and mouth lines can be treated with dermal fillers for an instantly revitalised look, although muscle-relaxing treatments such as Botox are particularly effective ways of correcting downward-pointing mouth corners and reducing creases in the longer term. Results can last between 6-9 months with fillers such as Restylane and Juvéderm® Ultra, and 3 – 4 months with Botox.

18) Teeth whitening in 45 mins with Zoom - The Zoom! teeth whitening system: Takes just 45 minutes, makes your teeth at least 8 shades lighter, gives you immediate results, is long lasting with very little fadeback and is safe and comfortable.

19) Advanced Lactic Acid Skin peel - An Advanced AHA skin peel is ideal for sun-damaged skin, or certain kinds of acne, pigmentation issues or fine wrinkling around the mouth and eyes. The process is less aggressive than some chemical peels, but nonetheless highly effective. The peel generally causes some flaking, redness and dryness, as the old skin gives way to fresh, young skin. However unlike harsher THC peels, the much milder side effects diminish within a day or two. Once the body heals itself naturally, the outer layer of skin exfoliates, with patients usually able to engage in normal activities within 24 hours.

20) Smartxide DOT therapy to the décolleté & face - SmartXide DOT therapy can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, tighten the skin and even out skin tones. Redness may last between 1-2 days, but can be covered up with makeup. Younger, fresher, tighter skin is something surgery cannot offer, so we often improve upon the results of surgery
With patients increasingly realising that there are alternative treatments out there less people are jeopardizing their job security in order to maintain their beauty regime.  Most alternative treatments cost considerably less than traditional cosmetic surgery too.

Dr Jain is Medical Director at Riverbanks Clinic, a double award-winning cosmetic medical practice based in Harpenden, Herts UK, where he provides a number of treatments including Botox, fillers, facial recontouring and body recontouring. Dr Jain's Clinic is renowned for its excellence and won ‘Best New Clinic' and ‘Best Business Development' in the 2009 Aesthetic Medicine Awards.

Dr Ravi Jain qualified from the Royal London Hospital in 1995 and has since held posts at The Royal London, St. Bartholomew's and St. Mary's Hospitals. Early in his career he trained in gynaecological laparoscopic surgery before training as a GP. He now specialises exclusively in cosmetic dermatology and minor surgery.