Published on 18 September 2026
When thread veins started to show on her legs, Karen lost confidence in her appearance. Although she suffered no physical impact, Karen became increasingly aware of the veins and felt she could no longer show her legs. However, following three sessions of sclerotherapy treatment at Benenden Hospital, she feels able to wear shorts with confidence once again.
How was your initial consultation?
“I got a very warm welcome when I came in and it was great because I didn’t feel pressured to do anything. My consultant, Dr George Taggart, was totally honest and explained his assessment, how many sessions I’d need and the treatment plan. I felt thoroughly looked after.
“I liked the fact that I was given lots of information and plenty of time to ask as many questions as I wanted.”
What was your treatment experience like?
“I was seen completely on time. I was understandably a little bit anxious, because you would be. Everything was explained to me. I was met by the nurse while I sat in the reception area and welcomed in.
“I got up on the couch and what worked well for me was that the nurse stood by my side and really engaged me in some deep conversation. This meant that Dr Taggart could get on with what he was doing. I didn’t think about it, I wasn’t aware of it, and from a distraction point of view, it worked really well. It was over in 15 minutes.
“I had three treatments in the end. The nurses were all brilliant. They were all very professional, and they gave me additional information as well. The whole experience was made very comfortable and welcoming.”
How was your recovery?
“My recovery was really easy. After the procedure you have some little cotton wool pads on the treatment sites, fixed down with a plaster. I chose to have the treatment during the winter because I wanted to be able to wear shorts in the summer, so it’s worth considering that each treatment is a month apart when planning it.”
Would you recommend sclerotherapy to anyone who is conscious of thread veins?
“I feel totally confident to wear shorts now, which was the idea of it. I think the people who would benefit from thread vein treatment are those who, like me, possibly lack confidence in how they are at the moment.
“I would say to anyone who feels like me that it will boost their confidence. They should just go for it. It’s easy, it’s fast. Having the treatment is not going to impact on day, but it will impact on your life and your confidence if you don’t.”
Thread vein treatment at Benenden Hospital
Sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive procedure to treat smaller varicose and thread veins that have become unsightly or painful. It uses an injection technique to remove unsightly thread veins, also referred to as spider veins due to their spider web-like appearance.
Book your initial consultation online or by calling our Private Patient team on 01580 363158. If you have any questions regarding the options available for vein treatments, please contact us using our online enquiry form or via Livechat.