Laser treatment is often used to treat thread veins on the face. Mother of three Patsy Webb, 47, recently had the veins around her nose lasered. She found it quite painful. ‘I had an injection through my top gum to numb the area around my nose before the laser was applied. The injection was quick but quite uncomfortable and I felt a kind of flicking sensation as the laser was applied.’ However, she was very pleased with the results. “Thread veins seem to run in my family - my mother and grandmother had them on the face and over time they multiplied. ‘I was told that I might get further outbreaks both on my face and body as I age and I’d definitely go back for more treatment,’ she adds. Another method for zapping thread veins on the face is high-intensity light treatment (Photoderm.) This heats the veins to make them coagulate. It can cover a bigger area than laser treatment but this technique appears to be more risky and less effective than laser treatment. There’s also electrolysis which is offered by many beauty clinics, and involves a fine needle passing a current into the skin, but this is less effective than the other treatments, and there is a greater risk of scarring.  

NEW PROCEDURE A fantastic new way to combat thread veins without any side-effects is Dr Newman’s Veinwave. The joy of this high-tech treatment is how quick and painless it is. Veinwave uses a new method called thermo-coagulation, where heat is produced by a high-frequency electric current to remove the thread vein. Veinwave is a ‘walk-in, walk-out’ procedure, says Dr Newman.”It is virtually painless with no risk of scaring, bruising or any change in pigmentation. Patients can carry on as normal immediately after a treatment and even go in the sun if they wish. In my clinics, patients will come in their lunch time, have a treatment and go back to work immediately after.” There is no bandaging required after Veinwave on the legs and immediately after treatment the thread veins will instantly disappear. The patient will feel as if nothing has happened in that area apart from some slight tingling. After a few days they may experience some redness and a cat scratch look along the veins that have been treated which shows the veins are healing. “Thread veins can make people feel very self-conscious, especially during summer when women tend to wear bathing suits on holiday - but there’s really no need to worry,” says Dr Newman, “Veinwave may not be overly cheap but it works and its permanent.” Of course, one thing us ladies need to bear in mind is that prevention is always better than a cure - so don’t overdo it on the wine and hot, spicy foods takeaways!