Making a thread vein removal claim
If you need the help of solicitors who are experienced in making a thread vein removal claim then contact the experts for a free case assessment and details of no win, no fee funding.
What is a thread vein?
Telangiectasia, otherwise known as thread veins, are tiny blood vessels that appear on the surface of the skin. Thread veins occur on the face, primarily around the nose and cheeks. They will not usually disappear on their own and will require treatment if you want to get rid of them.
Thread veins can be caused by several factors including:
- Over exposure to the sun, or excessive heating of the skin;
- Long term use of steroid creams on the skin;
- Ageing skin; and
- Excess oestrogen, resulting from pregnancy or from the contraceptive pill.
For some people, the problem runs in the family and sometimes people can get them for no apparent reason.
What treatment is available for their removal?
Thermo-coagulation or microwave treatment is often used to remove thread veins. Machine based treatments such as Veinwave and ThermaVein therapy are two such microwave treatments. During treatment a small needle is inserted into the skin at the point of the vein to cauterise it, causing the vein to heat up and shrink. The thread vein is then absorbed back into the body. An anaesthetic cream is usually applied before treatment to numb the skin, sometimes followed by a topical cream to calm the skin. In most cases the skin becomes red and sore after treatment and takes two or three days to settle. A second course of treatment is sometimes required, depending upon the number of thread veins to be treated. The procedure can be uncomfortable and has been likened to a rubber band being flicked on to the skin.
An alternative to vein wave therapy is pulse dye laser, which uses yellow light to target the veins causing them to heat and retract. This treatment leaves red or purple patches on the skin surface. These can last for one or two weeks which some people find embarrassing. This treatment is often used to correct thread veins issues following problematic vein wave type treatment.
What can go wrong?
Difficulties with these types of thread vein removal treatment can arise when the individual has sensitive skin or too much of the therapy is performed in one session. This can lead to red and painful skin which has difficulty healing which in some cases results in ice pick and linear scarring on the surface of the skin. In a small number of cases the thread veins can become worse, though this is rare.
As with all cosmetic procedures, we would recommend as a minimum, the following before undergoing any treatment:
- Research the procedure so you know what to expect;
- Research the clinician and make sure they are qualified and insured;
- Speak to others who have had the procedure and try to go by recommendation rather than price;
- Ask questions about the procedure and ensure you understand the answers;
- Ensure that a full pre-treatment consultation is carried out and where necessary ask for a patch test;
- Do not be afraid to walk away if you change your mind; and
- Be realistic as to what can be achieved by the procedure and the clinician who is performing it – not all procedures are 100% successful, and there are usually limitations as to what can be achieved.
Making a thread vein removal claim
We are often approached by potential clients who have undergone the procedure and who require guidance on making a vein removal claim. In order to establish a case for compensation it is important to differentiate between the consequences of substandard treatment (negligence) and what is just an unfortunate but nevertheless medically ‘acceptable’ outcome or limitation of the treatment.
We have successfully recovered compensation for thread vein treatment that has gone wrong and you can read a case study about one such claim here. If you have had similar experience, do not hesitate to contact the our specialist team who will be able to offer you guidance on making a thread vein removal claim and provide details about No Win, No Fee funding. Your enquiry will be met with sympathy, patience and understanding. We recognise that there can be some embarrassment in discussing cosmetic negligence claims, so please do not hesitate to ask for either a male or female team member of the team to call you back if it makes that initial step easier for you to take.