Vascular Laser · Kensington, London
Laser Thread Vein Removal in London: Face, Nose and Legs
Laser thread vein removal uses a vascular laser to heat the blood inside a dilated vessel until the vessel closes, after which the body gradually clears it. It is used for thread veins on the cheeks, nose, chin and eyelids, for small leg veins, and for several other benign vascular marks. A session takes 15 to 30 minutes and prices start from £200.
Thread veins rarely turn up for no reason. Rosacea, chronic sun damage, oily skin and pregnancy all leave vessels fixed and dilated, so at Faciem the cause is examined alongside the vein: close the vessel, ignore the cause, and fresh vessels follow. Assessment is face to face with Dr Prasad, a GMC-registered doctor with 20 years’ experience in dermatology.
- Face and leg veins
- Doctor-led Kensington clinic
- Cause assessed too
- From £200
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Patient satisfaction
- Medically reviewed by Dr Prasad
This page describes how thread veins are assessed and treated at Faciem, and is reviewed for clinical accuracy.
Last reviewed: 14 July 2026.
Patient information only. Thread veins can be a sign of an underlying skin or vascular condition, so treatment follows a face-to-face assessment with Dr Prasad and results vary between individuals.
Patients since 2019
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TL;DR
Laser thread vein removal closes dilated vessels in the skin with a vascular laser, and the body clears them over the following weeks. At Faciem it starts from £200, a session runs 15 to 30 minutes depending on how many vessels are treated, and most people need 1 to 3 sessions, usually no more than 3 and around 6 weeks apart. Clearance shows over 2 to 6 weeks, sooner for fine vessels and later for thick ones. Treatment follows a face-to-face assessment with Dr Prasad, who looks at what is driving the vessels as well as at the vessels themselves.
- Facial and small leg veins treated
- Underlying cause assessed at the same time
- Back to work the day after
Treatment at a Glance
What to Expect from Thread Vein Treatment
Procedure time
15–30 minutes
Depending on complexity and the number of vessels.
Treatment price
From £200
The exact price per session is given after the area is assessed face to face.
Results visible
2–6 weeks
Larger, thicker vessels take longer to clear than fine ones.
Results last
Closed vessels rarely reopen
New vessels can still form while the cause behind them continues.
Downtime
Redness, possible bruising
Redness on the day and bruising are usual, and make-up can be applied.
Back to work
Day after
Many people book late in the day for that reason.
Laser thread vein removal starts from £200 and the exact price per session is confirmed once the area has been assessed face to face, because it turns on how many vessels are treated and how complex they are. Where rosacea or another condition is driving the vessels, treating that forms part of the plan and is quoted separately.
About the Treatment
What Is Laser Thread Vein Removal and How Does It Work?
A vascular laser closes dilated vessels in the skin, and the body clears them over the following weeks.
Laser thread vein removal uses a vascular laser — a device producing a wavelength that the blood inside a vessel absorbs far more strongly than the skin around it does. The absorbed energy heats the vessel wall until the vessel closes, the body then breaks the closed vessel down and removes it, and the thread vein fades over the following weeks.
What a vascular laser actually targets
A laser is a light device producing a beam aimed at one target inside the skin. In laser hair removal that target is the hair follicle; in thread vein treatment it is the blood inside the vessel. Because the wavelength is absorbed preferentially by blood, the energy concentrates in the vessel instead of spreading through the surrounding skin.
Vascular laser devices are not interchangeable. Wavelength, pulse duration and surface cooling all change which vessels a device can close, and how safely it can do so on your skin. Intense pulsed light is a different technology again, emitting a broad band of wavelengths where a laser emits one, and our blog sets out how IPL differs from a laser. Which device suits you follows from your skin and from the vessels being treated, and is explained at your consultation.
Facial thread veins and leg veins are not the same problem
Facial thread veins are surface vessels that have become fixed and dilated, most often across the cheeks, around the nose and on the chin. They sit close to the surface, which is why a vascular laser reaches them well.
Leg veins are a different proposition. Small leg thread veins can be treated with laser, but they are frequently fed by larger vessels deeper down, and where that is true, treating the surface alone gives a disappointing and short-lived result. Larger, bulging or rope-like leg veins are not thread veins at all: they need separate assessment, and sometimes a referral for a vascular opinion instead of cosmetic treatment. Any leg vein that has changed suddenly, or that comes with swelling, aching or pain, should be assessed medically first.
Why the cause is assessed as well as the vein
Some vein problems are part of a wider skin condition, and rosacea is the most common of them: an inflammatory disorder in which facial vessels flush and dilate repeatedly until they stay dilated. Where rosacea is present, treating it alongside vascular laser is advised, because an inflammatory process left untreated keeps producing newly dilated vessels and the problem recurs.
Chronic sun damage, oily skin and pregnancy also leave vessels fixed and visible. None of that shows on a photograph, which is why assessment at Faciem happens in person with Dr Prasad before any laser is booked. Closing the vessel is the straightforward half of the job; working out why it is there decides whether the result holds.
What a thread vein session feels like, and what follows it
A session takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many vessels are being treated and how complex they are. Each pulse is brief, and most people describe it as a sharp flick against the skin — more noticeable around the nose, where the skin is thin and the vessels are dense.
Redness on the day is usual and bruising is common, and make-up can go straight over it. Most people are back at work the day after. Treated veins often darken or look more obvious before they fade, so the result is not there as you leave the room: clearance appears over 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the size and thickness of the vessel.
What else vascular laser treats
Beyond thread veins on the cheeks, nose and chin, the same approach treats fine vessels on the upper eyelid, venous lakes on the lips, and the small bright red papules known as Campbell de Morgan spots. It also treats the fixed redness and visible vessels that come with rosacea, which creams do not reach.
Not every vascular mark suits a laser. Some raised or fibrous lesions do better with hyfrecation, which works point by point across a single lesion instead of over an area, and any pigmented or changing mark is examined before anything is aimed near it — where there is doubt, a mole check comes first. Which route suits you is decided at assessment, and sometimes the answer is that a mark is best left alone.
Vein Types & Areas
Which Veins and Vascular Marks Can Be Treated
Vascular laser at Faciem treats thread veins on the face, several other benign vascular marks, and small leg veins. Grouping them this way matters because facial and leg vessels behave differently, and larger leg veins are a separate problem needing separate assessment.
ZONE I
Facial thread veins
Surface vessels that have become fixed and dilated, usually across the central face.
Cheeks
One of the most commonly treated areas, often alongside general facial redness. Where rosacea is present the redness is treated as well as the vessels.
Around the nose
Dilated vessels around and on the nose are a frequent reason for treatment. Vessels here are often denser and may need more than one session.
Chin
Treated in the same way as the cheeks and nose, usually as part of the central facial pattern.
Upper eyelid
Fine blood vessels on the upper eyelid can be treated, with eye protection in place throughout. Suitability is assessed individually.
ZONE II
Other vascular marks
Benign vascular blemishes treated with the same approach.
Venous lakes on the lips
Soft, dark blue-purple marks on the lip, usually related to sun exposure over time.
Campbell de Morgan spots
The small bright red papules on the trunk sometimes called blood blisters or cherry angiomas. Any lesion that is changing is assessed first.
ZONE III
Leg veins, and vessels with a cause behind them
Where the visible vessel is a symptom of something else.
Small leg thread veins
Fine surface veins on the legs can be treated with vascular laser. They often need more sessions than facial vessels, and results vary.
Larger or bulging leg veins
Larger, raised or rope-like leg veins are not thread veins. They usually need different treatment, and may need a vascular opinion before anything cosmetic is considered.
Rosacea-related vessels
Visible vessels and fixed redness in rosacea respond to vascular laser, but the inflammatory condition needs treating too or the vessels return.
Sun damage and oily skin
Chronic sun damage, oily skin and pregnancy all leave vessels fixed and dilated. Sun protection is part of holding the result.
Choosing the Right Treatment
Vascular Laser vs Hyfrecation: What’s the Difference?
Vascular laser and hyfrecation both close unwanted vessels, but they reach them differently. A vascular laser delivers light that the blood inside the vessel absorbs, treating from the surface without touching it. Hyfrecation uses a fine probe to deliver heat by electrical current at the point of contact. Which one suits you depends on the vessel, the site and the skin around it.
| Vascular laser | Hyfrecation | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A wavelength absorbed by blood heats the vessel until it closes, without breaking the skin surface. | A fine probe delivers heat by electrical current directly to the lesion or vessel at the point of contact. |
| Best for | Thread veins on the cheeks, nose, chin and eyelids, small leg veins, venous lakes and Campbell de Morgan spots. | Individual small lesions and some raised vascular and skin blemishes, treated point by point. |
| Results appear | Over 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the size and thickness of the vessel. | Usually once the treated point has crusted and healed. |
| Results last | Closed vessels rarely reopen, though new ones can form while the cause behind them continues. | Treated lesions do not usually return, though new ones can form for the same reasons as the first. |
| Downtime | Redness on the day and possible bruising; make-up can be applied and most people work the day after. | A small crust at each treated point, which needs to be left alone while it heals. |
| Ideal candidate | Someone with several thread veins across an area, or diffuse redness with visible vessels. | Someone with a small number of discrete lesions where precision at a single point matters more than coverage. |
Figures for hyfrecation are left qualitative here because they depend on the lesion being treated. Results vary between individuals, and where neither option is right for you Dr Prasad will say so at the consultation — including when a leg vein needs a vascular opinion instead of cosmetic treatment.
Transparent Pricing
How Much Does Laser Thread Vein Removal Cost at Faciem?
Laser thread vein removal at Faciem starts from £200 per session. The exact price is given once the area has been assessed face to face, because it turns on how many vessels are being treated and how complex they are. Where rosacea treatment or another condition is driving the vessels, that is quoted separately so you can see what each part costs.
Thread vein pricing across London is quoted in different units — per session, per area, per minute of laser time — which makes comparison harder than it should be. Ask what a session covers, how many sessions are likely for what you have, and whether the price changes if the area needs longer. A cheap per-session price on a device that needs twice as many sessions is not the cheaper treatment.
The number of sessions cannot be fixed in advance, though a laser that targets blood vessels specifically generally needs fewer, and usually no more than 3 spaced around 6 weeks apart. Your price is confirmed before treatment starts, and nothing is added on the day without being discussed with you first.
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Laser thread vein removal, per session | From £200 |
| Further sessions or additional areas | Priced after assessment |
| Treatment of an underlying condition such as rosacea, where needed | Quoted separately |
| Consultation with Dr Prasad | Confirmed when you book |
Why Faciem
Thread Veins Treated by a Doctor Who Looks for the Cause
Thread veins are easy to zap and easy to get wrong. What decides whether a result holds is whether anyone asked why the vessels dilated in the first place, and whether the vein in front of them is a thread vein at all.
- Assessed face to face by Dr Prasad, a GMC-registered doctor, before treatment
- Underlying conditions such as rosacea treated alongside the vessels
- Facial and leg veins assessed differently, with larger leg veins referred for a vascular opinion
- An exact price per session given after the area is assessed
- Clinic operated by a provider registered with the Care Quality Commission
- Any pigmented or changing mark examined before a laser is aimed near it
Experience & Expertise
Why a Thread Vein Is a Diagnostic Question First
Visible vessels on the face have several causes and they do not all behave the same way. Rosacea, chronic sun damage, oily skin and pregnancy are all associated with vessels becoming fixed and dilated, and some vascular-looking marks are not vessels at all. Dr Anamica Prasad has 20 years’ experience in dermatology and is a member of the British Medical Laser Association.
That matters most in two situations. The first is rosacea, where clearing vessels without addressing the inflammation behind them produces a result that unravels within months. The second is the leg: a thread vein fed by a larger incompetent vessel keeps coming back, and a leg vein that has changed suddenly or aches needs a medical assessment before any laser. Hearing that at the consultation saves you paying for a treatment that was never going to hold.
- Dr Anamica Prasad — MBChB (1999), Dip Dermatology (2001), MRCGP, DFFP, DRCOG · a GMC-registered doctor
- Member of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), British Medical Laser Association (BMLA), Royal Society of Medicine and the Aesthetic Complications Group · ZO Skin Health UK Faculty & Trainer
- Clinic operated by Derma Medical UK Ltd — registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for diagnostic and screening procedures, surgical procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder or injury (Location ID 1-25573003746)
- Face-to-face assessment before treatment, with the underlying cause of the vessels considered as part of it
- Vascular laser treatment planned and priced only after the area has been examined in person
Patient Reviews
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Your Journey, Our Promise
How Thread Vein Treatment Runs at Faciem
Thread vein treatment at Faciem runs in four stages: a face-to-face assessment of the vessels and the skin around them, a plan with an exact price per session, the treatment itself, and a review once the vessels have had weeks to clear.
STEP 01
Consultation
The area is examined in person, along with your medical history and anything that might rule laser out. Where the vessels belong to rosacea or sun damage, that is identified before treatment, not afterwards. Leg veins are assessed with the possibility of a deeper feeding vessel in mind.
STEP 02
Personalised plan
You are given an exact price per session once the area has been assessed. The number of sessions cannot be fixed in advance, though usually no more than 3 are needed, around 6 weeks apart. A pre-procedure leaflet is provided on booking.
STEP 03
Treatment
A session takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on complexity and the number of vessels, with eye protection worn throughout. Expect redness on the day and possible bruising afterwards; make-up can be applied.
STEP 04
Aftercare & review
Redness settles within a day or two and bruising over 7 to 10 days, while clearance appears over 2 to 6 weeks depending on the size and thickness of the vessel. Review is timed to let that happen before anyone decides whether another session is needed, which is why further sessions sit around 6 weeks apart. When to come back is agreed with you before you leave.
Side Effects & Safety
Is Laser Thread Vein Removal Safe, and What Should You Expect Afterwards?
Laser thread vein removal is generally well tolerated, and most effects are short-lived. Safety depends on the assessment as much as on the device: the wavelength and settings must suit your skin, and the vessel needs identifying correctly before anything is aimed at it.
Common, temporary effects
- Redness in the treated area on the day of treatment
- Bruising, which can be covered with make-up
- Treated vessels looking darker or more obvious before they fade
- Mild swelling or a warm, stinging feeling for a short time afterwards
Uncommon effects
- Small clusters of fine new vessels occasionally appear beside a treated area, more often on the leg than the face. Blistering or crusting is less common again, as is skin left temporarily paler or darker than the area around it, and scarring is rare. Most of this resolves on its own. Anything still there after a few weeks is brought back into the clinic and Dr Prasad reviews it herself.
When laser treatment is not suitable
- Laser treatment cannot be given during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or while taking medicines that make you more sensitive to lasers. You are assessed again on the day. Larger, bulging or aching leg veins are not treated cosmetically, and any leg vein that changes suddenly, or comes with swelling, pain or skin changes around the ankle, should be assessed medically first.
After Your Treatment
Thread Vein Aftercare, and Protecting the Result
Aftercare after thread vein treatment does two jobs. It settles the treated skin over the first few days, and it keeps the vessels around it from dilating again while that happens. The arc is fairly predictable: redness and warmth on day one, bruising at its most visible across days two to four and generally gone by day seven to ten, treated vessels looking darker before they start to fade, and clearance appearing over weeks two to six. Anything that flushes the skin works against the second job, which is why so much of the list below is about heat.
Do
- Cool the area with a cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes if it feels warm, then leave the skin alone
- Cover any bruising with make-up from the same day — bruising usually settles within 7 to 10 days
- Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 50 daily on treated facial skin for at least four weeks afterwards
- Expect treated vessels to darken first, then fade over 2 to 6 weeks
- Tell the clinic about blistering, crusting, or anything still unsettled after 7 days
Avoid
- Strong sun exposure and sunbeds on the treated area for at least four weeks
- Heat, alcohol and hard exercise for 24 to 48 hours, since all three dilate vessels
- Rubbing or picking a crust — let it come away on its own, usually within 7 to 10 days
- Judging the result before 6 weeks, or booking a second session sooner than that
- Standing still for long spells in the first 48 hours after leg treatment
This is general guidance and does not replace the personalised advice given on the day, or the pre-procedure leaflet provided when you book. Advice specific to leg treatment, including walking and support hosiery, is confirmed with you at your appointment.
Thread Vein FAQs
Your Questions, Answered
Thread veins prompt a fairly consistent set of questions, and these are the ones that come up before a first appointment. Anything not covered here can be put to Dr Prasad on the day.
How much does laser thread vein removal cost in London?
Laser thread vein removal at Faciem starts from £200 per session, and the exact price is given once the area has been assessed face to face. It depends on how many vessels are treated and how complex they are, so a price quoted before anyone has seen the area is a guess, not a quote. Treatment of an underlying condition such as rosacea is quoted separately.
How many laser sessions do thread veins need?
Most people need 1 to 3 sessions of laser thread vein removal. The exact number cannot be fixed in advance, but a laser targeting blood vessels specifically generally needs fewer, and no more than 3 are usually required, spaced around 6 weeks apart. Leg veins often need more sessions than facial vessels, and results vary between individuals.
Does laser thread vein removal hurt?
Most people manage laser thread vein removal comfortably. Each pulse is brief and most patients describe it as a sharp flick against the skin, more noticeable around the nose, where the skin is thin and the vessels are dense. Numbing cream is not usually needed for facial thread veins, and the skin surface is cooled during treatment. A session lasts 15 to 30 minutes depending on how many vessels are treated. Tell the practitioner at the time if it is uncomfortable.
Do thread veins come back after laser treatment?
A thread vein that has been closed and cleared does not usually reopen, but new vessels can form while the cause continues. That is why rosacea, chronic sun damage and oily skin are addressed alongside treatment, and why daily sun protection matters afterwards. How long your own result is likely to hold is discussed at the consultation, once the cause is clear.
Can leg veins be treated with laser?
Small leg thread veins can be treated with vascular laser. Larger, raised or rope-like leg veins are a different problem and usually need different treatment, sometimes a vascular opinion before anything cosmetic. Leg veins are also more often fed by deeper vessels, so treating the surface alone can give a short-lived result. They typically need more sessions than facial veins.
What causes thread veins on the face?
Several things leave the small vessels in facial skin fixed and dilated: chronic sun damage, chronic rosacea, oily skin and pregnancy are the common ones. Ageing skin also changes how vessels behave and how visible they become. Identifying which applies to you is part of the assessment at Faciem, because it determines whether a laser result will hold.
Can thread veins on the nose be treated?
Yes. Dilated vessels around and on the nose are one of the most common reasons people come for thread vein treatment. Vessels here are often denser than on the cheeks and may need more than one session, and the nose is where the pulses tend to be felt most because the skin is thin. Where the vessels are part of rosacea, the rosacea is treated as well.
Can I wear make-up after laser thread vein removal?
Yes — make-up can go over the treated area straight away, including the same day, and there is no waiting period after laser thread vein removal. Concealer over any bruising is the usual reason people ask, and bruising generally settles within 7 to 10 days. Remove make-up gently for the first 48 hours and skip exfoliating scrubs and retinoids on the treated skin for about a week. If the skin blisters or crusts, leave that area bare until it has healed.
Is thread vein laser suitable for darker skin tones?
It can be. Skin tone is assessed on the Fitzpatrick scale before any laser setting is chosen, because a vascular laser is aimed at the blood inside the vessel and the pigment in the skin above absorbs part of the same light on its way through. Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin can be treated, but the wavelength, fluence and pulse duration are adjusted, surface cooling matters more and a patch test is used first, since the risk being managed is post-inflammatory pigmentation rather than the vessel itself.
Do I need rosacea treatment as well as laser?
Possibly. Where thread veins are part of rosacea, treating the underlying complaint alongside vascular laser is advised, because an untreated inflammatory process leads to recurrence. Laser addresses the vessels that are already fixed and dilated; it does not stop new ones forming while the inflammation continues. Your assessment decides whether both are needed.
How soon can I go back to work or exercise after thread vein treatment?
Most people go back to work the day after laser thread vein removal, which is why late-afternoon appointments are popular. Redness is at its most obvious for a few hours on the day and bruising can show for 7 to 10 days, though make-up covers it. Leave hard exercise, hot yoga, saunas and steam rooms for 24 to 48 hours, since heat dilates the vessels you have just had treated. After leg treatment, keep moving rather than standing still for long spells.
How long before a wedding or event should thread veins be treated?
Leave several weeks. Clearance after laser thread vein removal appears over 2 to 6 weeks depending on the size and thickness of the vessel, and bruising is common in the days afterwards. Treating close to an event risks looking worse on the day, not better, so plan backwards from the date and allow room for a second session.
Vascular Laser for Thread Veins in Kensington, London
A Doctor-Led Clinic in the Heart of Kensington
Laser thread vein removal is available at Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic on Kensington Church St, London, led by Dr Prasad. The clinic sits a few minutes’ walk from High Street Kensington station and about ten minutes from Notting Hill Gate, which puts it in easy reach of Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Holland Park and the rest of west London.
Sessions are short at 15 to 30 minutes, but expect redness on the day and possible bruising, so a late-afternoon appointment suits anyone who would prefer not to go back to a desk afterwards. Most people work the day after. The clinic opens Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm, and Kensington council underground parking is nearby.
Vein treatment in London is sold by clinics, salons and spas alike, and the differences are worth pinning down before you book. Is the vein examined face to face before a price is quoted? Is the person treating you registered with the GMC, NMC or GDC? Which laser will be used on your skin, and why that one — a clinic that will only tell you it is a vein laser has told you very little. And is the price per session given to you in writing?
You are under no obligation to book treatment at your consultation. If the vein you are worried about needs a vascular opinion instead of a laser, we would sooner tell you so and point you to where to go next.
Plan Your Visit
- Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic
- Phone: +44 20 7131 3539
- 7 Kensington Church St, London W8 4LF, United Kingdom
- Tube: High Street Kensington (few minutes’ walk) · Notting Hill Gate (~10 minutes)
- Parking: Kensington council underground car park nearby
- Open Monday–Saturday, 10am–7pm · Sunday closed
- Thread vein consultations bookable online; an exact price per session is given once the area is assessed
- Consultation-first — no treatment without medical assessment
- Serving Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill & Central London
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Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic · Kensington
Book a Thread Vein Assessment in Kensington
Consultations run Monday to Saturday at our Kensington clinic. The vessels are examined in person, the cause behind them is considered, and you are given an exact price per session before anything is booked. If you would like to hear from people treated here first, read our patient reviews.
Prefer to talk? +44 20 7131 3539