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Sclerotherapy
We believe this to be the treatment of choice for small and large veins. In this treatment a scleroscant solution is injected into the abnormal vein using tiny micro needles. This leads to closure of the offending vein, its contracture and disappearance.
What happens in a normal treatment? What will you feel during treatment?
Before you undertake treatment we will do a full assessment of your venous system which often requires ultrasound examination and agree on a treatment plan with you.
You should not apply moisturising lotions to your legs on the day of your treatment or the day before and should not shave your legs for two days beforehand. You also need to bring a pair of shorts to wear during the procedure. There is no anaesthetic needed and little pain or discomfort during the treatment.
What will you feel after treatment?
Bruising is common but some patients bruise more easily than others. You should apply Arnica ointment which we can supply or you can buy yourself to lessen inflammation.
Some veins can turn dark soon after treatment and temporarily looked worse before they look better. Occasionally a brownish stain results, however this does fade with time or with the help of medication.
Tenderness and redness may appear along some sections of the injected veins. This is not an infection. Walking rather than sitting down will reduce soreness. Sometimes an oral anti-inflammatory agent is required for quicker relief but you can always contact the centre if you need further advice.
Lumps may occur along some sections of the injected veins. This is quite normal and your doctor can treat them when you return for your next visit or subsequent visits. Occasionally blisters can appear over the skin. These are easily treated with a dry dressing and a Melolin pad and usually resolve well.
With sclerotherapy you will find your veins will look worse before they get better and this is perfectly normal. Often the follow up treatment is given before the previous treatment has fully resolved because we have found this gives the best result and minimal down time for you.
Your legs may need to be taped or bandaged and after the procedure you should wear your compression stocking as advised by the doctor whenever standing. The compression stocking is a Lycra like material and supplied by us. This is designed to be worn under clothes so no one need know you are wearing it. These stockings may be removed when lying in bed or temporarily when showering and are normally left on during the day and off at night. They may need to be worn for a number of weeks after treatment. Your doctor will advise you.
Walking briskly for up to 30 minutes daily is recommended whilst attending the centre for treatment. Other than this you can continue with most normal activities.
Vigorous exercise (e.g. aerobics, running) should be avoided in the first 24 hours and also when wearing compression wrap bandages. Long car or plane trips should be avoided but if you need to take these then you should make sure you walk for at least five minutes every hour during the trip.
How many sessions are necessary?
This depends on the severity of your problem. You will normally require more than one treatment as many veins cannot be eliminated all at once. You may need anywhere between one and 10 sessions.
While this information is intended to give you a good overall picture of how varicose vein treatment may help you, your situation is unique. The best way to find out if this is the right answer for you is to come and see us. There are no sales pitches and we will explain all the options and help you to make the right decision.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
Where veins can't be seen from the surface, ultrasound is used to locate them and then the veins are injected accurately and safely. We have had great success in treating large veins with this method since 1992.
An update on this technique is to use a sclerosant foam rather than a liquid. This has a number of advantages. Firstly because the foam is visible on the ultrasound screen, its passage up the problem vein can be monitored to the level required.
Because the foam displaces the blood in the vein rather than moving with it as the solution would there is direct contact between the foam and the vein walls and therefore a more effective sclerosing effect on the vein. The use of the foam also allows the use of smaller amounts of sclerosing medicine to achieve an even better result. Finally this leads to an easier post-treatment course, less discomfort and quicker healing.
Endovascular Laser Treatment (EVLT, ELVES)
This is a relatively new and very effective treatment for larger veins such as the Greater Saphenous and Small Saphenous veins. It involves the insertion of a Fibre-optic probe into the offending vein. When the laser light is turned on, the vein is heated along its length and therefore shrinks, partly immediately due to the effect on collagen in the walls of the vein and partly as the treated vein develops new collagen with the healing process.
The Ashley Centre is one of the first to be involved with this treatment here in Australia. The advantage of this treatment is its short healing time for the treated vein and therefore suitability for treatment of large veins in summer and winter. This treatment is a good alternative to surgical stripping of veins. After EVLT, residual surface varicose and spider veins are treated with sclerotherapy.
The main advantage of EVLT is its effectiveness in treating large veins with a short recovery period. In contrast to surgical stripping of veins, downtime is minimal and the patient is ambulant immediately.
Laser Treatment of Veins
This is the treatment of choice for treating small, spider veins on the face and nose and can also be used on spider and small veins on the legs and body for those who have not responded to sclerotherapy and also have light coloured skin.
The laser light is preferentially absorbed by the red colour in the blood which flows in the veins. This light converts to heat, causing shrinkage of the vein into which the light was directed. No special dressing or stocking is required.
When will you see results? What you need to do after the treatment to ensure the best result?
With laser treatment the vein is effectively shut down immediately but you will need to wait until any swelling and discolouration has subsided to see the full result. This usually occurs within a few days or immediately depending on the size of the vein treated.
More than one session is usually required to eliminate all the offending veins but this depends on the density and extent of the vein problem.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy for Veins
This is a surgical treatment for visible small to large tortuous veins. It involves surgical excision of the veins under local anaesthetic using very tiny incisions which become almost invisible when healed. This method is especially worthwhile for those patients requiring relatively quick recovery and are not afraid of a surgical approach.
Large Vein Surgery
This is the older and traditional method for treating large varicose veins. This surgery usually requires a hospital stay and is done under general anaesthetic.
It is now used by The Ashley Centre as a last resort and also for patients living far away and unable to return for several treatment sessions required with the non-surgical treatment methods.
We will discuss the alternative treatment methods with you at your consultation, after a full examination of your venous system and its problems.
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How much does it cost?
We understand you are curious to know how much the procedure you are thinking of having might cost.
The truth is that with many procedures your cost can fall within a fairly wide range. While we do offer online consultations for liposuction we believe it is unethical to give a cost estimate without gaining a proper understanding of your needs.
Your body, your skin and your expectations are different to anybody else's. Some patients have been attracted by an initial quote only to find the final price was a lot higher. Sometimes these initial estimates do not cover such elements as theatre fees or the cost of an anaesthetist for example.
Our philosophy is simple. We want you to be fully informed, we want you to understand all your options and have one accurate price quoted once. Over more than 20 years of cosmetic practice we have found that this is what most of our clients want too.
To have the convenience of an online liposuction consultation click here or call us on 03 9569 3511 to arrange a no obligation consultation in person.
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» We're here to help. Click here to come in have a no obligation assessment done and talk about what you would like to achieve.
» Or call 9569 3511. Our hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 8.30am to 7.30pm and Wednesday, Friday Saturday 8.30am to 5.00pm. |
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» If you have had a face to face appointment with Ashley, are happy with your written treatment plan and wish to proceed our book my surgery section will help us to fit the date of your procedure in with your busy life.
» Click here to get a response on a possible date for your procedure
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Both Mother Lyn and Daughter Ceri were happy to show off their 'new' legs and were featured in New Idea. |
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