Concierge vein surgery · UK
Sclerotherapy - an injection, not an operation.
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins and injection microsclerotherapy for thread and spider veins. Walk-in, walk-out, no anaesthetic. Consultant vascular surgeon-led with a proper duplex workup first.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant vascular surgeon, on ultrasound
A named consultant vascular or interventional radiologist doing their own duplex scan and delivering their own foam - not a nurse-only cosmetic-vein clinic.
- 02
The right treatment for the right veins
Foam sclerotherapy, endovenous ablation, phlebectomy or microsclerotherapy - chosen by anatomy, not by the clinic that gets paid best.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic. Whether sclerotherapy, EVLA, radiofrequency or reassurance fits your case, the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private sclerotherapy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner UK units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.
In short
Foam sclerotherapy - one leg, one session: £650–£1,400, walk-out the same appointment.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-leg venous duplex ultrasound | £380–£650 | 30–45 min | Same visit report |
| Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy - one leg, per session | £650–£1,400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy - both legs, per session | £1,100–£2,200 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Microsclerotherapy for spider veins, per session | £300–£550 | 20–40 min | Same visit |
| Course of 3 microsclerotherapy sessions | £850–£1,500 | Across 6–12 weeks | n/a |
| Foam sclerotherapy after EVLA (per session) | £500–£1,100 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Vascular consultation only | £220–£380 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by consultant, by whether duplex is bundled, and by how many sessions are needed. Most patients need 2–3 sessions for a good final result. We confirm a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Vein treatment is where cosmetic clinics quietly under-diagnose.
Injecting spider veins without treating the underlying reflux is why so many patients see their veins return within a year. Duplex first, then treat.
-
Duplex, or don't inject
Every leg gets a full-leg standing venous duplex before treatment. Skipping this is the commonest cause of poor long-term results.
-
Treat truncal reflux, then the surface
Big veins first, small veins after. Microsclerotherapy of thread veins without addressing feeding reticular and truncal veins fails predictably.
-
Stockings are the whole game after week one
Class 2 compression cuts pigmentation, recurrence and coagulum. Compliance is the single biggest lever for a good cosmetic outcome.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One vein specialist team from first duplex through treatment and long-term surveillance.
Phase 1 · Before
Assessment and planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Treatment and discharge
Phase 3 · After
Follow-up and review
- 01
Before
You tell us what you can see and feel
A short form - visible veins, aching, swelling, itching, ankle skin changes or history of DVT. Photos help.
- 02
Before
We match to the right specialist
Within one working day: which vein specialist and where; whether sclerotherapy alone will fit or whether you likely need EVLA first. Firm quote.
- 03
Before
Full-leg duplex ultrasound
A full standing venous duplex maps the deep, superficial and perforator systems. This is the single most important step - treating without duplex is a common failure mode.
- 04
Before
Plan and consent
Foam volume and concentration, number of sessions, compression regimen. Warnings on transient visual disturbance and pigmentation reviewed.
- 05
On the day
Treatment in clinic
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy 30–45 minutes. Microsclerotherapy for spider veins 20–40 minutes. No anaesthetic, no fasting, no downtime.
- 06
On the day
Compression and walk out
Class 2 compression stockings applied at the end. Immediate 30-minute walk before driving. Home the same appointment.
- 07
After
Review and top-up sessions
Duplex review at 4–6 weeks. Most cases need 2–3 sessions of foam or microsclerotherapy for a good result. Long-term duplex at 12 months.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to first session. Session count: 2–3 sessions. Final result: 3–6 months after last session.
When it helps
When sclerotherapy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus one red flag that means specialist review urgently rather than a routine booking.
-
Symptomatic varicose veins
Bulging leg veins with ache, heaviness, itching or ankle swelling - often after standing all day. Suitable for foam sclerotherapy if duplex shows the right pattern.
-
Residual varicose veins after EVLA
Foam sclerotherapy is the standard adjunct after endovenous laser ablation to clear the tributary veins the laser did not close.
-
Recurrent varicose veins
Veins that have come back after previous stripping, EVLA or previous sclerotherapy - often ideal for ultrasound-guided foam.
-
Spider veins (telangiectasias) under 1 mm
Fine red or purple thread veins on legs - microsclerotherapy is more effective than laser for these on the legs, and the standard treatment.
-
Reticular veins (blue, 1–3 mm)
The feeding blue veins under a patch of thread veins - treating them first improves the microsclerotherapy result.
-
Vulval and pelvic varicose veins
Foam sclerotherapy for vulval or perineal varicosities and - with an interventional radiologist - for pelvic venous congestion syndrome.
-
Venous ulcer with visible varicose feeders
Foam sclerotherapy to feeding varicose veins accelerates venous ulcer healing when combined with compression.
-
Not right for: active DVT, right-to-left cardiac shunt
Active or recent deep vein thrombosis, and a known patent foramen ovale with symptoms, are contraindications. We check for both at duplex and history.
Procedure options
Foam or liquid, ultrasound-guided or by eye - the technique is matched to the vein.
Foam sclerotherapy for varicose tributaries and recurrences, microsclerotherapy for spider and reticular veins, and combined pathways with EVLA or RFA for truncal disease.
-
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS)
Polidocanol or sodium tetradecyl sulphate mixed with air into a foam, injected under ultrasound guidance into varicose veins. The workhorse for saphenous tributaries and recurrent veins.
-
Microsclerotherapy for spider veins
Liquid sclerosant (typically 0.25 percent polidocanol) injected with a fine needle into thread veins on the leg. 2–4 sessions for a full-leg course, at 4–6 week intervals.
-
Foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein (GSV)
An alternative to EVLA for the trunk vein in selected patients - smaller GSV diameter, patient preference for injection over thermal ablation. Slightly higher recurrence.
-
Foam sclerotherapy of the short saphenous vein (SSV)
For SSV incompetence, sometimes preferred to thermal ablation because of proximity to the sural nerve.
-
Foam sclerotherapy of perforator veins
Ultrasound-guided injection of incompetent perforators - useful before or alongside truncal ablation for ulcer or pigmentation cases.
-
Combined foam plus EVLA/RFA
The commonest modern approach - thermal ablation of the truncal vein, then foam sclerotherapy of the tributaries at the same session or 4–6 weeks later.
-
Foam sclerotherapy for vulval and pelvic veins
Delivered by an interventional radiologist or vascular surgeon with pelvic-venous expertise, often combined with coil embolisation of the ovarian veins.
-
Cyanoacrylate glue (alternative)
Not sclerotherapy but a non-thermal alternative to close a truncal vein - sealed with a special medical glue. Useful in selected patients.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of vein specialists, we picked them.
Consultant vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists across London and the major UK cities who scan and treat themselves. Introductions made privately once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every specialist in our network.
-
GMC-registered consultant vascular surgeons or interventional radiologists on the Specialist Register
-
Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland (VSGBI) membership and routine sclerotherapy volume
-
Own duplex ultrasound machine and consultant-performed scanning
-
Compression stocking supply and structured follow-up scanning on site
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Sclerotherapy is a walk-in, walk-out procedure with a well-characterised side-effect profile. The important conversations are pigmentation, coagulum and - rarely - visual aura.
-
Walk-in, walk-out, no anaesthetic
No fasting, no sedation, no downtime. Drive yourself, walk 30 minutes after, and back to office work the same day.
-
Skin pigmentation over treated veins
Around 10–20 percent of foam-treated veins leave a brown or bluish pigmentation for 3–12 months. Usually fades; small residual pigmentation persists in about 5 percent.
-
Trapped blood (coagulum)
A tender lump along a treated vein 2–6 weeks after treatment - trapped blood needing needle drainage in clinic. Common with foam, well handled in review.
-
Transient visual disturbance or migraine aura
Around 1 in 100 cases of foam sclerotherapy trigger transient visual aura for 5–30 minutes. Higher risk if you have a patent foramen ovale - we ask about migraine history and screen.
-
Deep vein thrombosis
Under 1 percent with modern foam volumes, ultrasound guidance and post-procedure walking and compression. We ask about DVT history and personal thrombophilia risk.
-
Allergy to sclerosant
Rare with polidocanol and sodium tetradecyl sulphate. We take a full allergy history and start with a test injection in unusual cases.
-
Recurrence over time
Around 20–30 percent of foam-treated veins re-open within 5 years - often manageable with a top-up session. Recurrence rates are similar between foam, EVLA and stripping in most trials.
-
Compression is not optional
Class 2 stockings day-and-night for 3–7 days, then daytime for 2–4 weeks. Compliance drops both recurrence and pigmentation.
-
Red flags after treatment
New calf pain, calf swelling, chest pain, breathlessness, or sudden severe visual change need same-day team review, not a routine follow-up call.
Reading your notes
Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether foam or microsclerotherapy, one leg or both, the session record keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Clinical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through your notes before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Veins treated and sclerosant used
Which veins, which sclerosant (polidocanol, STS), concentration, foam or liquid, and total volume injected.
- 02 Technique
Ultrasound guidance and access
How the vein was accessed, whether Tessari foam was used, and how the injection was distributed under real-time ultrasound.
- 03 Findings
Duplex before and after
Baseline reflux pattern and - where available - end-of-session imaging showing spasm and closure of treated veins.
- 04 Impression
Compression, walking, follow-up
Read this first: which stockings, for how long, when to walk, when to return, and any red flags to watch for.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Sclerotherapy is usually covered when varicose veins are symptomatic. Cosmetic-only spider vein treatment is typically self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about sclerotherapy.
Quick answers on foam versus laser, spider veins, sessions, cost and recovery.
-
What is the difference between foam sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy?
Foam sclerotherapy uses a whipped-air foam of sclerosant, injected under ultrasound guidance into larger varicose veins - deep enough that you cannot see them clearly through the skin. Microsclerotherapy uses a liquid sclerosant injected with a fine needle directly into small thread and spider veins visible on the surface. Different veins, different techniques, different scanners - but the same underlying idea: irritate the vein lining so the vein closes and is reabsorbed.
-
Is foam sclerotherapy as good as endovenous laser (EVLA)?
For most tributary and recurrent veins, yes - and it is the standard adjunct after EVLA. For the main truncal veins (great and short saphenous), EVLA and radiofrequency have modestly better closure rates at 5 years than foam sclerotherapy alone. In practice, most patients get thermal ablation of the truncal vein plus foam sclerotherapy of the tributaries. The combination is usually the right answer.
-
How much does private sclerotherapy cost in the UK?
Roughly £380–£650 for the essential duplex scan, £650–£1,400 per foam sclerotherapy session for one leg (£1,100–£2,200 for both), £300–£550 per microsclerotherapy session, and £850–£1,500 for a course of three microsclerotherapy sessions. Consultation is £220–£380. Most patients need 2–3 sessions for a full result.
-
Will spider veins really disappear with microsclerotherapy?
Around 70–80 percent of treated spider veins clear or fade substantially after a full course of 2–4 sessions. New spider veins develop over time in around 20–30 percent - sclerotherapy treats the veins you have, it does not prevent new ones. Treating the feeding reticular veins first, and treating in autumn or winter when sun exposure is lower, both improve results.
-
How long does the effect last?
Well-treated tributary and spider veins are usually stable for 5+ years. Around 20–30 percent of foam-treated veins re-open in that time and can be top-up-treated in a short session. Recurrence rates are similar between foam, EVLA and open stripping in randomised trials - no venous treatment is permanent because new veins can always form.
-
What does the leg feel like after treatment?
Mild ache along treated veins for 1–2 weeks, sometimes tender lumps of trapped blood at 2–6 weeks (drained in clinic), and pigmentation over treated veins that fades over 3–12 months. Full compression for the first week is the single most important thing you do - comfort and cosmesis both improve when it is worn properly.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
-
ClariVein
Mechanochemical vein ablation alternative.
Learn more -
Radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins
Thermal truncal vein ablation.
Learn more -
Injection therapy
Broader injection therapies overview.
Learn more -
Cryotherapy treatment
Skin-lesion cryotherapy service.
Learn more -
Laser treatment for acne
Non-vein laser use case.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more