Can you get thread vein treatment on the NHS?

Thread veins are not a health risk and therefore they are very unlikely to be covered by the NHS in the vast majority of cases.

Even more troublesome varicose veins have to be ‘bad enough’ with complications such as phlebitis or eczema present in order to qualify for treatment. The criteria are a lot higher than they used to be. See our article on NHS Varicose Vein Treatment Grades.

Similarly thread veins are considered a cosmetic problem and not considered to affect health or quality of life, which means that the NHS will not offer treatment for the condition.

Patients looking to have treatment for them will need to look to the private sector.

Thread Vein Treatment Options

There are private companies such as the London Vein Treatment Centre which specialise in offering a broad range of vein treatments for private patients. These often use specialist technology and the doctors offering treatment are trained and experienced in vein problems.

Options at the London Vein Treatment Centre include:

has the latest Harmony XL Pro laser machine, which provides a .

• Laser treatment with the technologically advanced Harmony XL Pro
  This gentle treatment targets problem capillaries, vessels or veins with laser energy, which damages the veins so that they shrink, shrivel up and eventually disappear. This is suitable for thread veins on the face or body
• Micro-cautery laser treatment is available at all of the company’s skin treatment centres.
  This uses a superfine cautery device and is ideal for smaller facial veins, capillaries and spider veins
• Sclerotherapy injections work to destroy the vein from within
  This treatment is suitable for larger veins, such as those on the legs

London Vein Treatment Centre

As well as thread vein treatments, Cosmedics Skin Clinics also offer private varicose vein treatment and see many patients who have been refused treatment on the NHS.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.