Unsightly veins bulging out of your skin can genuinely affect a person’s confidence and health, to the point that it can change their lives.
The good news is, there is something you can do to regain that confidence, and prevent the unpleasant and painful side-effects varicose veins cause.
Why people are held back by varicose veins
It has been proven again and again, that confidence and being healthy are more important than appearance, and those suffering from low confidence tend to be unhappier than most.
For many women, varicose veins are their own personal hell.
For those who took great pride in their legs before the condition took hold, suddenly having dark, bulging veins can seriously affect their self-esteem, making them cover up all the time, even when at home.
Shorts and skirts are no longer an option, even on the hottest days, and swimming also has its problems.
It’s not just an issue for women
An estimated 15% of men in their thirties suffer from the condition, with the number rising to 45% for the over fifties.
The problem is, men are more likely to avoid treatment or a visit to their doctors because they are not as concerned by appearance as women tend to be.
Unfortunately, as well as the cosmetic issues, symptoms such as chronic aching,itching and eczema can cause great discomfort, and in some severe cases, varicose veins can rupture as well as causing ulcers in the legs.
And while the disease is associated with aging, young people can also develop varicose veins. This of course can be devastating to a teenager, but genes, hormones, lifestyle and weight all play a role in their development.
Vein treatments
Endovenous Laser Ablation, or EVLA as it’s known, is the leading treatment when it comes to varicose veins. Using a laser, the procedure destroys the vein wall, causing it to collapse and gradually disappear over the following weeks/months.
The Venaseal (glue) technique is a new treatment which 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.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) involves injecting a chemical solution into the varicose vein, turning it from soft and supple, to solid and fibrous, which the body then gradually absorbs over the next few weeks or months.
Microsclerotherapy is used for the smaller dilated veins on the arms and legs, just below the surface of the skin. Even as small as they are, sometimes they can become enlarged, resulting in unsightly clusters of red/purple veins.
Regain your confidence and health with safe and painless treatment
All of the above mentioned treatments are relatively painless, don’t require a general anaesthetic, but are a walk-in, walk-out procedure with very low incidence of side-effects.
As one of the leading clinics in New Zealand for vein treatments, there is no one better to talk to than us about your specific and unique condition.
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. He is ably assisted at the Vein and Skin Clinic by Drs Jarrod Newell and Lorainne Smith.
If you have any questions about varicose vein treatment or how we can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our friendly staff will be happy to help in any way they can.