Vein Treatment

Varicose and spider veins are also known as superficial varicosities and are a dilatation of the skin venules, which are the fine blood vessel at the surface of the skin. These vessels can become large and can cause a dull ache in the legs after prolonged periods of standing.
Although these blood vessels carry blood, they are not necessary to the circulatory system, so if their presence is causing problems, they can be treated by injecting a solution that will cause the treated veins to disappear.

Spider veins are also known as thread veins. The cause of spider veins is not known, but genetics, local trauma, and hormone levels can contribute to their development. Spider veins can also become more numerous with age and mostly occur in women.

Spider veins form because small veins just under the surface of the skin expand, which mostly occurs in the legs. They tend to look like purple or red web patterns. Spider veins are also referred to as telangiectasia or broken capillaries. Spider veins don’t usually pose any threat to your health, but may produce a dull ache or burning sensation in the legs after long periods of standing.

There is no way to prevent spider veins from forming, but the use of support stockings, weight loss, and regular exercise may help in some cases.

Varicose veins are enlarged or swollen blood vessels that are caused by weakening in the vein walls or valves, and tend to be located deeper than spider veins. Varicose veins can sometimes feel raised and often appear blue.

Advanced cases of varicose veins can cause harm to your health as they can be associated with the development of ulcers and phlebitis (inflammation). Roughly one quarter of patients that have spider veins also have varicose veins, which require treatment before the spider veins.

There is no known cause of spider veins. Some families are predisposed to this condition, particularly females, though certain things such as pregnancy, birth control, tight garter belts or shape ware, trauma and pregnancy can also cause spider veins.

Varicose veins can be caused by weak or damaged veins. If the valves become weak, blood can remain in the vein and collect there, which can cause the vein to swell?

Sclerotherapy is one of the safest (with well understood risk profile) and virtually painless vein treatments used to get rid of varicose and spider veins, and is able to improve blood circulation by limiting the amount of abnormal blood vessels. Sclerotherapy is the term used for the injection of a special substance into veins, and is most commonly used for spider veins. These tend to be more pronounced on the upper part of the outer thighs, but can occur on any part of the legs and may be associated with larger varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy uses a microinjection technique; an appropriately trained doctor will inject small amount of solution into the spider and varicose veins. A number of different solutions can be produced depending on the circumstances. The solution washes over the tint cells that line the inner wall of the blood vessel, to dry out the cells without harming the underlying tissue. After the injection of the solution, the vessels will no longer carry blood and will begin to shrink. The blood vessel will eventually turn to scar tissue and be absorbed back into the body.

The task of blood circulation will be taken up by other healthy blood vessels, which is the main reason blood circulation is improved through this procedure.

Most patients are able to see some improvement in the treated vessels after several treatments; however, the process is gradual and usually takes about six months. The treatment works for removing existing spider and varicose veins, but does not prevent new ones from developing.

Any possible side effects of Sclerotherapy vein treatments are rare, as the agent used has proved safe (with well understood risk profile). The most obvious side effect that can happen is a darkening of the pigmentation around the area of the injection that usually fades over time. This is a very rare occurrence but if it does not go away over time, can be treated by cosmetic laser therapy. It is also very rare that an allergic reaction can occur. Exercise should be kept to a minimum to prevent any possible deep vein thrombosis.

Some of the other side effects can include:

Some patients may develop a small tan spot around the injected vessel, which disappears in most cases

Bruising can occur at the injection site and around the vein as it thins, but this usually disappears within two weeks

Groups of fine red blood vessels can appear after the treatment, but these tend to disappear within a few months

The area around the injection site can swell and a bump can develop, which can be removed by the doctor without causing any internal problems

A small amount of ulceration may occur on the skin under the injection site, but this is a rare occurrence and needs to be seen by one of our doctors in Melbourne immediately

The treated veins may become inflamed, but this is very rare and can be treated with anti- inflammatory medication

It is possible to have an allergic reaction to the solution, but this is extremely rare and can usually be treated be antihistamine medication

Each area should be treated every three to four weeks to allow for the area to heal completely. The number of times the treatment will have to be performed will vary depending on the number of areas being treated and how your body responds to the injections. It usually takes one to three injections to treat each vessel, and multiple vessels can be treated in each session.

Before your treatment it is advisable that you not shave your legs for two days, but the doctor at our Melbourne clinic will be able to properly advise you of any and all the things you need to do before your treatment.

After your vein treatments, some of the things you should do include:

You will have to wear graduated compression stockings for up to a week

It is advisable that someone else drives you home

You should keep your legs moving and walk around every twenty minutes for the first day after your treatment

Do not remove your stockings until the following evening

If your legs become painful, it is best to try walking around

It is advisable that you refrain from strenuous activities for 48-72 hours

After the stockings are removed, they should still be worn during the day over the following week

The doctors at our Melbourne clinic will advise you on the length of time you will need to wear them and any other post-treatment care you will need to do.

You will not need any time off work and will be able to resume your regular daily activates the same day, as the procedure is usually painless.