Have you ever looked at your legs and thought, “I wish I could just get rid of these purple veins on my legs?” If your answer is yes, you have come to the right place.
Did you know that you don’t have to live with those unwanted purple lines any longer? You can now say goodbye to that self-conscious feeling of just wanting to cover it up all the time. We have good news, there is a proven treatment for varicose veins. In this article, we will dive into what exactly varicose veins are and which treatment can be the answer to your vein problems.
What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins form due to circulatory problems of the venous system. They are dilated, bulging, and twisted and can be cause by various reasons. Genes are often a main reason for the appearance of varicose veins. They are visible in more than 20% of men and over 40% of woman and they are most commonly present on the legs.
There are a few treatments for varicose veins that can help reduce their appearance, but one treatment that is particularly popular is called Sclerotherapy. This treatment is done by one of our Specialist Plastic Surgeons and is available at both our clinics in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to treat varicose veins, spider veins and broken veins.
When this non-surgical treatment is performed by one of our Plastic Surgeons, they inject a salt solution with a very fine needle directly into the veins. Once the solution is injected into the vein it irritates the lining of the blood vessel, causing it to swell. The swelling cuts the flow of blood and then the vessel shrinks.
Interesting fact: Sclerotherapy is a proven solution for varicose veins since the 1930s
The proven treatment for varicose veins
If you are struggling with varicose or spider veins you may consider sclerotherapy. An initial consultation with one of our Specialists will determine if the treatment is necessary or suitable.
Normally, people with varicose veins accompanied by the following uncomfortable symptoms are good candidates for sclerotherapy:
Itching
Legs feeling very heavy and tired
Burning
Swelling
Night cramps
This is a quick and effective procedure that is between 30-45 minutes and can be done at one of our clinics. The number of treatments may depend on the severity of the varicose veins and often multiple treatments are needed to collapse the vein fully. We normally recommend at least 3 treatments to see the best results. This treatment can only be performed during winter months.
After the procedure
Post treatment care may require you to wear compression stockings to avoid further forming of veins. Some patients may also experience some bruising where the sclerosant has been injected. The most important is to follow your doctor’s post care instructions and advice.
For spider veins it takes 3-6 weeks to respond to the treatment and with larger veins it takes about 3-4 months. You will need a follow up appointment to determine the success of the procedure and if the treatment was successful the veins will disappear. If it wasn’t successful, you might need repeated treatments.
Research suggests that in 75-90% of cases sclerotherapy removes problematic veins. If sclerotherapy is an ineffective or unsuitable treatment, the doctor might suggest other treatments that may be successful.
Now is the time to say goodbye to varicose veins and hallo to that dress or shorts that you have been wanting to wear for so long.
If you would like more information about this treatment, you are more than welcome to contact us.
