What we do
The most important aspect of treating veins is to ensure a proper assessment. Many times (though not always) this will involve an ultrasound of your leg veins to assess your specific vein problem and guide you to the appropriate treatment or specialist for more complex vein problems. When assessing a patient, our Cosmetic Sclerotherapy Nurse Roxanne Hallgren will first categorize the veins into 3 different types:
- Spider veins: very tiny and may be red or blue in colour.
- Reticular veins: slightly larger blue veins.
- Varicose veins: usually bulging tortuous veins that are greater than 6mm in diameter and for some people cause symptoms of pressure/tiredness/congestion in the legs.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting the veins with chemicals that close them down. Most patients are surprised at how little discomfort they feel during and after the injections. Following your treatment, tensor bandages are wrapped around the leg at the treated areas for spider veins. For small blue veins, graduated compression stockings may be required for up to 10 days. You can return to your normal daily activities and movement helps reduce pressure in the superficial veins as well as increase flow through the deep system. Hot baths, jacuzzis, saunas, hot yoga and sun beds are to be avoided for one week after each treatment session, because heat can cause veins to relax and open up, interfering with the success of the treatment. On average, patients require 4–6 initial treatments and then return yearly for 1–2 treatments to deal with new veins that have appeared.