Sclerotherapy is usually used for the treatment of thread veins but can also be used to treat varicose veins successfully. A single blood vessel may have to be injected more than once, depending on its size. In practice, most patients require between two and six treatments at four to eight-week intervals.

A special substance known as sclerosant is injected into the veins through a micro needle that causes the vein to turn white. The entire procedure generally lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.

Once the sclerosing solution has been injected into the vein, the treated area is wrapped in a tight bandage or compression stocking to assist with the shrinkage of the vein as well as to prevent bruising. The bandage or stocking must be worn for a maximum of seven days, depending on the size of the treated veins.