Sclerotherapy & Surgery
Fast Facts
- Varicose Veins are bulging veins that become enlarged when they fail to circulate the blood properly.
- Doctors use a variety of methods to treat venous disease. Problem veins may be surgically removed or injected with a solution.
- Varicose Veins may re-occur following treatment by any method. New Varicose also may appear
- Getting Rid Of Veins Is Quick and Easy
- Clinic42 are Southern Cross affiliated meaning you are able to claim for medical insurance.
Patient Information Questions & Answers
What are Varicose Veins?
Veins can become enlarged with pools of blood when they fail to circulate the blood properly. These visible and bulging veins, called varicose veins, are often associated with symptoms such as tired, heavy, or aching legs. In severe cases, Varicose Veins can rupture, or open sores (called ulcers) can form on the skin. Varicose Veins are most common in the legs and thighs.
Who gets Varicose Veins?
VaricoseVeins can occur in men or women of any age but most frequently affect women of childbearing age and older. Family history of the problem and aging increase one's tendency to develop varicose veins.
What causes Varicose Veins?
The causes of varicose veins are not entirely understood. In some instance, the absence or weakness of valves in the veins, which prevent the backward flow of blood away from the heart, may cause the poor circulation. In other cases, weakness in the vein walls may cause pooling of the blood. Less commonly, varicose veins are caused by diseases such as phlebitis or congenital abnormalities of the veins. Venous disease is generally progressive and cannot always be entirely prevented. However, in some cases, wearing support hosiery and maintaining normal weight and regular exercise may be beneficial.
What treatments are available to treat Varicose and Spider Veins?
Larger varicose veins often underlie spider veins. In such cases the varicose veins should be treated before spider veins.
There are three main treatments:
- Sclerotherapy followed by compression;
- Surgical procedure carried out by a vascular surgeon; and
- IPL or Laser treatment.
Pre-treatment: A diagnostic procedure prior to any treatment will be carried out. This is done by a Doppler Ultrasound, Duplex Ultrasound Imaging otherwise known as vein mapping. These techniques will help to give a more precise diagnosis of any major vein abnormality.
Varicose Veins are frequently treated by eliminating "bad veins". This forces the blood to flow through the remaining healthy veins.
Surgery to treat Varicose Veins is known as stripping and can be done under general anaesthetic or regional anaesthetic block. Here the problem vein is stripped by passing a flexible device through the vein and removing it through an incision near the groin. Smaller tributaries of these veins can be stripped with this device through a series of small incisions. The veins which connect to deeper veins are then tied off.
"Sclerotherapy" uses a fine needle to inject a solution directly into the vein. This solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing collapse of the inner lining and ultimately the vein. The vein turns into scar tissue that fades form view. Some doctors treat both varicose veins and spider veins with sclerotherapy.
Following injection of the solution into the vein, it is important to apply compression to the treated leg. This causes the collapsed vein wall to stick together. Patients who have had their legs treated are put on walking regimes, which forces the blood to flow into other veins and prevents blood clots. Less commonly, laser or electrocautery treatments have been used to treat the smaller spider veins, especially on the face.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Following sclerotherapy there may be a brown staining of the skin. This is due to pigmentation (which is the scattering of blood cells throughout the tissue after the vein has been injected). This brown staining fades with time. The correct use of compression following treatment may help to reduce the amount of pigmentation.
Small ulcers can develop over the injection sites, however this usually depends on the skill of the operator and the concentration of the solution used. Sometimes networks of tiny red blood vessels may develop after sclerotherapy or surgery. Usually this means that further treatment is required.
How long do the results last?
Many factors affect the rate at which treated veins recur. These include diagnosis, the method used and its suitability for treating a particular condition, and the skill of the physician.
An injection vein not completely destroyed by sclerotherapy may reopen, or a new vein may appear in the same location as the previous one.
If your veins are a result of venous disease then reoccurrence may be possible as venous disease typically progressive.
Insufficient compression following sclerotherapy may have an effect on the success of the treatment.
How much does treatment cost?
Charges to the patient vary with the condition and the number of treatments necessary. More than one treatment session is usually necessary. Medical insurance companies do provide cover under both surgical and sclerotherapy procedures.
To learn more about Varicose Vein Treatment or to make a consultation contact us now.
