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Leg Vein Sclerotherapy
(Spider / Varicose Vein Injections) |
At Skinovate, we love your legs as much as you do.
As with all of our treatments, the results we achieve for our patients speak for themselves. So, when you choose Skinovate to treat your spider or varicose veins, you can rest assured that we’re using the most advanced pharmaceutical formulas.
Our non-surgical, walk in / walk out procedures are convenient and comfortable. What’s more, you can expect between 70% and 90% improvement after the first round of treatments (between 3 and 6 visits).
CALL NOW to make an appointment
for a consultation
PRAHRAN 9510 7266
ESSENDON 9326 0700
or click here to make an online enquiry.
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FAQs About Leg Vein Sclerotherapy
(Click on a question to show the answer) |
What Causes Spider & Varicose Veins?
Spider veins are the fine red or blue blood vessels, easily visible just under the skin. Varicose veins are the larger blue/green vessels, deeper under the skin, which can bulge out.
Varicose veins and Spider veins occur more frequently in women. They are often inherited and related to pregnancy (pressure and hormones), obesity and prolonged standing. Spider veins may also occur after trauma to the skin.
Can They Be Prevented Or Reduced In Recurrence?
Wearing specialised venous support stockings may prevent dilated blood vessels from developing in some people. Maintaining a normal weight, regular exercise, avoiding constipation and wearing high-heeled shoes may also be helpful.
How Is Sclerotherapy Performed?
An irritant solution (Aethoxysclerol) is injected directly into the blood vessel with a very fine needle. This procedure has been used for spider veins since the 1930’s. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel causing it to swell and stick together. Over a period of weeks to months the vessel fades from view, eventually becoming barely or not at all visible. Depending on its size, a single blood vessel may have to be injected more than once.
What Precautions Should I Take With The Treatment?
Firstly, you must not moisturise your legs on the day of the treatment.
After the treatment, you’ll be given stockings to wear. These stockings must not be taken off for the first 48 hours at all - that means no shower for the first 2 days! After that, you shower with the stockings on just before going to bed. You will be advised if you need night stockings as well. The next morning, shower as soon as you get out of bed, then put the strong stockings back on. All stocking changeovers are to be done while sitting on the floor or lying on a bed. Leave the tape on for 5 days or until it falls off, do not pull off the tape before this time.
These stockings “squash “ the veins, so that they collapse and shutdown.
You must wear the stockings for a minimum of 10 days…but the longer you wear them, the better the results!
Does The Treatment Hurt?
Each injection stings like a strong ant bite, which lasts approx 1 minute. That’s all.
How Successful Is Sclerotherapy?
After several treatments (3-6) most patients can expect a 70-90% improvement in the appearance of their legs. Your legs will initially look worse because of bruising and blood entrapment. The improvement may be very gradual, with some vessels taking up to 2 months to show maximum benefit. Treatments are usually performed monthly, sometimes more regularly.
Does Medicare Cover The Treatment Cost?
Here in Australia, Medicare provides a rebate for Sclerotherapy for symptomatic varicose veins (i.e. causing aching, burning, itching, bleeding or eczema) that are larger than 2.5mm in diameter.
The rebate is around $78 per treatment, with a limit of 6 treatments per year. Tell your Doctor if you have any symptoms.
Could There Be Any Complications With The Treatment?
Even in the most experienced hands, some complications can occur. However serious conditions are rare. Potential side effects may be:
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• Mild Swelling around treated areas (common for 2 days after treatment)
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Bruises at injection sites (occurs in approx 80% of treatments and disappear in 1-2 weeks)
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Aching in the leg (approx 10% - can last for a few days)
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Staining of the skin (approx 30% - fade slowly, but can persist for 2-6 months, on very rare occasions there can be some mild, permanent mild marks)
NB: To minimise this side effect, do not take iron supplements (including most multivitamins) before, during, or for 3 months after the treatment. You should also avoid taking Aspirin, Vitamin E or anti-inflammatories such as “Voltaren” or “Naprosyn”. These medications increase your risk of bruising.
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Matting (approx 5% - new fine red blood vessels near treatment area, most resolve spontaneously, some resolve with injection treatment or laser, a few persist)
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Sore / Ulcer / Scabs (approx 1% - on rare occasions, a small, painful ulcer can develop at treatment sites within 2 weeks of injection, more common in-patients who smoke cigarettes, they heal slowly and may leave a small, pale scar)
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Phlebitis (approx 1% - inflammation of the veins, can be painful for a week or so but is very uncommon in treatment of spider veins)
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DVT (Deep vein thrombosis – very rare, approx 1 in every 100,000)
NB: This is a clot in a deep vein, but is rare. DVT requires hospital treatment and can have very serious health complications if the clot moves into the lungs (pulmonary embolism). It is important to stop the oral contraceptive pill if larger veins are treated. You must inform your doctor if you or your family have a history of blood clots. A DVT may require admission to hospital for an intravenous “drip” and tablets for 3 months.
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Intra-arterial injection (less than 0.01% - this is an extremely uncommon complication of larger vein treatment, which may result in muscle and skin damage and scarring.
Because of bruising and brown marks and the veins often becoming darker initially, your legs will look worse for the first 1-2 months before they get better in most but not all cases.
Allergic Reactions to some solutions may occur, involving itchiness, rashes, hives, low blood pressure, dizziness, breathing difficulty and, extremely rarely, shock requiring hospitalisation and treatments.
No exercise – except walking or swimming, which are both very good - for 2 weeks after treatment. Immediately after treatment you should walk around for at least 15 mins to reduce any side effects.
Will Treated Veins Re-Occur?
Treated veins can sometimes recur. Top-up treatments will minimize this. The more treatments you have, the better the results will be.
What Other Treatments Are Available?
- Lasers - lasers are not yet at a stage where they are helpful in the treatment of larger leg veins. Lasers are best used for treating abnormal blood vessels on the face, new matting or very fine red surface veins.
- Surgery - surgically tying veins off or “stripping” procedures are available for treating larger leg veins.
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SKINOVATE PRAHRAN |
182 Commercial Rd
Prahran, 3181
9510 7266
MELMAP 58D5 |
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| SKINOVATE ESSENDON |
Suite 1/143 Napier St
Essendon, 3040
9326 0700
MELMAP 28H3 |
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Skinovate is open
Monday to Saturday.
Click here for daily
times at each clinic.
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