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Skin Rejevenation
Laser and/or sclerotherapy treatment for thread veins
What are thread and varicose veins?
Thread veins are formed by the dilation of a small group of blood vessels located close to the surface of the skin. Although they can appear anywhere on the body, thread veins are most commonly found on the face and legs and look like red or purple sunbursts or web patterns. Thread veins are also referred to as telangiectasia, spider veins or broken capillaries. They usually pose no health hazard but may produce a dull aching in the legs after prolonged standing.
Varicose Veins are swollen or enlarged blood vessels caused by a weakening in the vein’s wall or valves. They are located somewhat deeper than thread veins, are sometimes raised and often appear blue. The origin of these varicose veins may be hidden under the skin.
How are veins treated?
A number of surgical treatment options are used to improve vein conditions. All treatments are intended to remove or destroy a defective vein so that its function can be quickly taken over by healthy veins. In most cases, leg compression is recommended with one or more treatments.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a safe and effective procedure that can be performed by Dermatologic doctors and surgeons in their offices with minimal discomfort. A concentrated saline or specially developed chemical solution is injected with a very fine needle into the thread or varicose vein. The sclerosing (hardening) solution causes the vein to close-up or collapse and become scar tissue that is eventually absorbed by the body. The work of carrying blood is shifted to other healthy blood vessels nearby.
Sclerotherapy generally requires multiple treatments. One to three injection sessions are usually required to effectively treat any vein, 10 to 40 veins may be treated in one session.
Post-treatment therapy includes wearing compression bandages or support hose during the day for two days to three weeks following treatment. The doctor will advise you regarding this during your consultation and treatment.
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Are there any side effects following treatment?
Most patients report few, if any, minor side effects from sclerotherapy, which usually disappear in time. Temporary reactions can include a slight swelling of the leg or foot, minor bruising, itching, redness, a small erosion or moderate soreness. Rarely, a scar may result. You should however, be aware that immediately following treatment your legs may look a little worse for a while as the blood in the veins dissolves.
What other treatments are used for thread and varicose veins?
• Ambulatory Phlebectomy:
This technique involves removal of an undesired vein through a series of tiny punctures or incisions along the path of the enlarged veins. Using a specially designed instrument to “hook” the varicose vein into the Dermatologic surgeon’s view, the damaged vein can be removed entirely by gently pulling from tiny puncture to puncture. This safe, outpatient procedure can treat large varicose veins, as well as small thread veins, with minimal risks, reduced side effects and decreased recurrence.
• Electrodesiccation:
The veins are sealed off with the application of electrical current.
• Laser surgery and intense pulsed light therapy:
This relatively new approach may be effective for certain leg veins and facial blood vessels. The heat from the high intensity laser beam or intense pulsed light devise selectively destroys the abnormal veins.
• Surgical ligation and stripping:
This method involves making an incision in the skin and either tying-off or removing the blood vessel. The procedure may require the use of general anaesthesia, is usually performed by a vascular surgeon in the hospital, and is generally reserved for larger veins.
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