Leg Veins - Sclerotherapy

Problems with unsightly veins are very common with nearly two thirds of people over the age of 60 suffering from some kind of venous problem especially varicose veins and spider veins. Indeed the incidence of varicose veins and other unsightly veins increases significantly after the age of 40 and women are much more likely to
develop them than men.

Varicose veins
Varicose veins occur when veins do not properly return blood from the lower leg to the heart. All veins have valves that open to allow the flow of blood to the heart and close to prevent back flow (know as "reflux") of blood to the foot. When valves fail to function properly, blood leaks through and flows down the leg in the wrong direction. The blood overfills and distends the superficial veins under the skin, resulting in the bulging seen in varicose veins.

The walls and valves of veins are thin and elastic, and can stretch due to a variety of conditions including pregnancy, heredity and age. When varicose veins become severe and compromise the return of blood toward the heart, it is referred to as chronic venous insufficiency.Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency includes aching pain, easy leg fatigue and leg heaviness, all of which worsen as the day progresses. Left untreated, chronic venous insufficiency can cause ulcerations,which can be very difficult to treat.

Causes of unsightly veins
The cause of varicose veins is unknown. Heredity is the most common factor. Increased pressure in the deep venous system is transmitted to the surface system and slowly compromises the surface veins with defective valves and predisposes to the development of varicosities. Hormonal changes play a large part and this probably explains why more women suffer from varicose veins
than men because of the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and menopause. Other contributory factors include obesity and prolonged standing.

Traditional Treatments
Ligation and Vein stripping: Until recently the standard treatment of large varicose veins was ligation and vein stripping. With ligation one or more incisions are made over the varicose veins, and the vein is tied off. If the ligation can isolate a faulty valve and the vein and
valves below the faulty one are healthy, the remaining vein may be left in place to continue circulating blood. If several valves in the vein and the vein itself are heavily damaged, the vein (or the diseased part of the vein) is usually removed (stripped). Varicose vein surgery has
the same risks associated with general surgery, including infection, bleeding, and anaesthesia risks. Common side effects from vein stripping and ligation surgery may include temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, haematoma, numbness, and less frequently wound infection.

Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy works by injecting a solution into the damaged veins causing them to collapse, stick together, and eventually break down naturally in the body. Normal blood flow in the leg is thereby re-routed through deeper veins. Although the needle used to administer the sclerosant is small some patients report pain during the process. Side effects can include: brown lines or spots on the skin at the site of the injected blood vessels. In most cases, this discoloration will disappear in time. In a small number of people (less than one per cent), the brown lines may last up to a year or longer. Swelling, matting (the development of numerous fine red veins,) ulcers and inflammation are also possible. Very rarely phlebitis or blood clots can result from sclerotherapy.

Before and After Images