Vein Treatment Perth, Western Australia
Many Australians suffer from problems related to varicose and spider veins. Many seek vein treatment in Perth for relief of pain as well as for cosmetic improvement. Although unsightly (and therefore unwanted) blood vessels are part of the blood circulation system, many of them, especially spider veins, can be removed because the blood has started to flow in the wrong direction and they no longer effectively return blood to the heart. Therefore, when these veins become a burden, a vein treatment procedure called sclerotherapy can be used that will cause them to disappear or at least become much smaller and less visible.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged blood vessels that form beneath the skin's surface. The one-way valves in the veins that would normally channel the blood back to the heart do not function properly, causing the blood to "pool" in the veins. This pooling stretches the veins, creating swollen and twisted blood vessels that appear under the skin as blue, rope-like veins. These veins can become large and unattractive and can produce symptoms such as tired, heavy, aching, burning, itching or cramping legs.
What are spider veins?
Spider veins or "telangiectasiae" are small, thin blood vessels that lie close to the surface of the skin and appear red or blue. These small, enlarged blood vessels may be short, unconnected lines or may be connected in a spider web or cluster pattern. Spider veins can cover a large area of skin and be quite unattractive. They are most common in the thighs, ankles and feet.
What happens during a sclerotherapy vein treatment?
A tiny needle is used to inject a medication (sclerosing solution) directly into the unwanted vein. The solution acts on the inner lining of the vein, causing it to collapse and shrink so that no more blood can flow through this unwanted vein. Within weeks, the unused vein is absorbed by the body and eventually becomes barely noticeable or invisible.
Following injection of the solution into the vein, the leg is wrapped firmly in a compression bandage or placed in a gradient compression stocking, which helps the lining of the collapsed vein to stick together. Patients are advised to walk following the procedure, which forces the blood to flow through other healthy blood vessels nearby.
A vein may need to be injected more than once, depending on its size. In any one treatment session, a number of veins can be injected. Several sclerotherapy sessions may be needed for any vein region, depending on the type and number of veins being treated. It is rare, but some veins may resistant to treatment.
Are there any restrictions before or after vein treatment?
Sclerotherapy is performed on an outpatient basis in the doctor's surgery. No anaesthesia is required and there is no preparation required before treatment, although we recommend avoiding aspirin and anti-inflammatory for 5 days prior to vein treatment. Generally, normal activities can be resumed 24 hours after treatment although a compression stocking will need to be worn for 3 to 7 days after procedure.
Between vein treatments, many doctors recommend the use of compression bandaging or support stockings. This may be particularly recommended for people who spend a lot of time on their feet or work in a standing occupation.
Is sclerotherapy vein treatment painful?
The treatment is not painful usually, but individual injections can cause a stinging or burning sensation. The degree of pain depends on the sclerosing solution used for injection and the size of the needle. Doctors have found that some sclerosing solutions cause less pain than others. Panadol and anaesthetic cream applied one hour before treatment can often help, though at Absolute Cosmetic Medicine, our doctors use a less painful solution.
How successful is sclerotherapy?
After several treatments, most people can expect a fifty to one hundred percent improvement in treated veins. The fading process is gradual and may take a few months. Sclerotherapy usually produces disappearance of spider veins, but it does not prevent veins from occurring in other areas although it may slow this down. This problem is genetic and yearly checkups are advised.
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What side-effects are associated with sclerotherapy?
Even with a highly experienced doctor performing the vein treatment there are some possible side-effects associated with sclerotherapy. In general, side-effects are minor and are far outweighed by the improvements that are possible with sclerotherapy. Research has found that some sclerosing solutions cause fewer side-effects than others.
The side-effects of sclerotherapy include:
Brown lines or spots on the skin over the injected vein.
This brown staining is probably the result of blood escaping at the time of injection into the vein and is more common when larger veins have been treated. In most cases, the staining disappears within one month.
Bruising at the point where the needle went into the skin.
Bruising may occur and is probably related to the calibre of the vein wall. It usually disappears within one to two weeks.
Swelling of the injected area
Swelling is most common when veins below the ankle are treated. It generally improves within several days to several months and may be reduced by using compression stockings following sclerotherapy.
Development of groups of fine red blood vessels (matting)
The appearance of previously unnoticed fine red veins can occur after sclerotherapy. These new veins can occur in the first two three days or may not be visible for several weeks following treatment. Usually the condition improves in a few months without any specific treatment although IPL is a handy tool to remove these.
Small painful ulcers at injection sites
A small ulceration of the skin over the injected vein may develop within a few days of treatment. This occurs when some of the sclerosing solution escapes into the surrounding skin. The ulcers can be successfully treated, but it is necessary to inform the doctor about them as soon as possible. The solution we use rarely causes this.
Lumps in injected veins
Occasionally a lump may develop at the injections site, which is caused by congealed blood within the vein. This is not dangerous and can be removed by the doctor a few weeks after the injection.
Inflammation of treated veins
Inflammation of injected veins is very unusual, but when it occurs, it can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication.
Allergic reactions to sclerosing solutions
Allergic reactions may occur following sclerotherapy with any sclerosing solution, but these are extremely rare. Minor reactions can be treated with antihistamine medication. More serious allergic reactions will be treated immediately by the Doctor.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Very rarely, a DVT may develop after sclerotherapy. A DVT is a deep blood clot that forms in a vein and causes the flow of blood to be blocked. The chances of developing a DVT are about 1 in 7000 legs injected. Immediately walking afterwards for twenty minutes and wearing the compression stocking correctly will help prevent this. We also regularly perform scans prior to the treatment to avoid this.
All information courtesy of Smith + Nephew
Why Choose Us for Your Vein Treatment?
We have injected thousands of veins with very few problems.
Full investigation is carried out before the treatment.
We use an injecting solution that is in our opinion less painful and more successful
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We have clinics located in Perth, Broome, Esperance, Geraldton, Joondalup, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and Mandurah. There is a convenient location for almost everyone in WA!
