Varicose veins are not simply unsightly, but they can have genuine health impacts on your body.
Most people with varicose veins will tend to develop other symptoms, such as throbbing, swelling and aching.
Advanced cases of the disease cause dermatitis, pain and tired legs, and while very rare, end stages of the condition can cause the skin below the affected veins to become thin, making it susceptible to cuts, nicks and ulcers.
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available to help stop the condition before things get out of control.
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)
EVLA is the gold standard when it comes to varicose vein treatments.
The procedure uses a laser, which converts light energy to heat energy, destroying the vein walls. This causes vein to collapse, stop working, and gradually disappear over several weeks or months.
EVLA can be used to treat even the largest of varicose veins and it is a simple day procedure. We use local anaesthetic, so patients remain awake during the treatment, feeling no pain.
Venaseal
Venaseal is an alternative new treatment requiring less injections, no local anaesthesia and performed in a faster time.
The procedure involves inserting a small catheter into the damaged vein, and literally gluing the walls shut from the inside.
Once the affected vein is closed, blood is immediately re-routed through other healthy veins in the leg.
With no surgery, chemicals or anaesthetic, the procedure is performed as an outpatient and with virtually no recovery time.
This treatment is relatively new, and as such the Vein and Skin Clinic is one of the very few clinics in New Zealand practicing the Venseal (glue) technique.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) involves injecting a chemical solution into the varicose vein in order to irritate the inside of the vein wall.
The vein turns from soft and supple, to solid and fibrous, which the body then gradually absorbs over the next few weeks or months.
The main advantage of UGS is the accurate visualisation and mapping of all leg veins, but it is often more suitable for post-surgical recurrence and for some small varicose veins.
Again, UGS is a simple day procedure, and all normal activities can be resumed immediately, although compression stockings may need to be worn for a week or two.
Reticular Veins
Reticular veins are the dilated blue and green veins just beneath the surface of the skin. These veins are usually seen on legs and arms, and normally act as heat regulators, but unfortunately sometimes they can become enlarged, resulting in unsightly bulges.
When this happens we use Microsclerotherapy to treat them.
Much like Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy, a very fine needle is used to inject the vein with a chemical foam. This foam breaks down the vein walls, and your immune system treats them as a bruise, allowing the body to reabsorb the cells.
Usually more than one treatment of Microsclerotherapy is required, and special compression stockings need to be worn for a couple of weeks.
Spider veins
Similar to reticular veins, Spider Veins are closer to the surface of the skin and are usually found on the face as well as the legs.
The Vein and Skin clinic uses Microsclerotherapy to treat spider veins, of the legs whilst we prefer Intense Pulsed Light treatment for spider veins of the face.
IPL treatment is the use of intense pulses of light at certain wavelengths to break down cells, allowing them to be reabsorbed by the body. Healing from IPL treatment is often compared to having a slight sunburn, and there are rarely any serious side-effects.
Perform better, feel better
It is a myth that only pregnant women and old people suffer from varicose veins?
The truth is, anyone can develop varicose veins, at any time in their life, and veins can affect around 30% of the population overall.
If you feel uncomfortable with your bulging veins, whether it’s at the gym or just out and about on a hot summer’s day, we can help.
We are one of the leading clinics in New Zealand for vein treatments and appearance medicine.
With professional Doctors and nurses, this isn’t a beauty spa – we’re a medical clinic with years of expertise.
Dr Poczwa pioneered and performed the first EVLA treatment of large varicose veins in New Zealand in 2002. Since then, he has successfully treated over 3,000 cases, including some of the largest varicose veins on record in the country.
All our staff are continually being up-skilled, attending educational workshops and industry conferences both home and abroad, to ensure their patients are receiving the best and most up to date treatments available.
As one of the pioneers of vein and skin treatment in New Zealand, there is no one better to talk to about your specific and unique condition.
Contact us today if you want to know more about of the above treatments, or if you have any questions. Our friendly and experienced staff will be happy to help in any way they can.
