Facial Spider Veins and Alcohol

Can Alcohol Cause Facial Thread Veins? 

There are a number of possible causes of spider veins on the face, but one of the best known is alcohol consumption. 

A red nose is commonly associated with heavy drinking. While there are a range of other potential causes, it is true that alcohol can be a significant factor in the development of spider veins on the face.

This adds an extra dimension to patient’s concerns about the appearance of facial thread veins, as few would wish to be thought of as a heavy drinker. It can be quite troubling, impacting on confidence and self-perception.

Alcohol and Spider Veins

Alcohol acts as a ‘vasodilator’. This means that it opens up the blood vessels. In the short term, this explains why people can ‘flush’ after drinking alcohol.  But in the longer term, if blood veins, capillaries or vessels over-dilate, they can burst, which leads to permanent spider veins on your face.

Other Causes

Alcohol is not the only cause of thread veins.  Other potential causes include sun exposure, smoking, the ageing process, a genetic tendency, injury, hormones and skin type/coloration/condition.

Whatever the cause, many patients are keen to find treatment for facial thread veins, as camouflage with makeup can be quite difficult.

London Vein Treatment Centre

Cosmedics Skin Clinics’ main London Vein Treatment Centre has the latest Harmony XL Pro laser machine, which provides a gentle and effective treatment for visible veins on the face and body.

Harmony XL Pro Laser treatment targets problem capillaries, vessels or veins with a blast of laser energy. This damages the veins so that they shrink, shrivel up and eventually disappear. Laser energy also works to stimulate healing and cell renewal in the treated area.

Treatment using micro-cautery laser is also available at all of the company’s skin treatment centres.

Larger thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections,.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Established in 2003, Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer treatment for spider veins using the latest techniques with GMC-registered doctors and surgeons. They also offer advanced laser varicose vein treatment at the London Vein Treatment Centre.For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Ballroom Dancing and Varicose Veins

Can You Dance with Varicose Veins?

Are varicose veins stopping you from dancing like the Strictly stars?

ballroom dancing varicose veinsDiscomfort or pain can put varicose veins sufferers off activities which they may feel would make the veins worse, but this could be counter-productive.

Varicose veins can cause aching, painful, tired, heavy, restless and swollen legs. Yet there are many health benefits from dancing. It’s a great way to boost circulation as well as improving muscle control, balance, strength and flexibility. Building up stronger calf muscles helps to boost circulation from the legs to the heart, which improves vein health. If your varicose veins are mild, then dancing is likely to help manage the symptoms and also prevent them from worsening. If in any doubt, seek medical advice.

However, for very severe varicose veins, the symptoms can be debilitating.  If varicose veins really impede any prospect of dancing, then perhaps it’s time to consider treatment.

Does Dancing Cause Varicose Veins?

Dancers sometimes have prominent varicose veins, but the condition does not affect dancers more than any other profession. The main risk in varicose veins is genetic.  Other risk factors include standing or sitting still for long periods of time, pregnancy, age and obesity.  These tend to be opposed to an active hobby such as dancing.

Dancing does promote a lean body shape and this can mean that varicose veins are more visible as there is less fatty layer on the legs to hide them.

Compression tights/stockings may be of some help, or for more severe cases, where the appearance or condition of varicose veins is causing concern, treatment can be considered.

Varicose Vein Treatments

EVLA laser varicose vein removal is viewed as the gold-standards solution for varicose veins.

This procedure is is carried out on a day case basis and uses local anaesthetic. Recovery is very quick and patients are able to walk unaided to return home. There is no need for an overnight stay and patients can return to normal activities much faster. Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private varicose vein treatment including EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

Other Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Established in 2003, Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer thread vein removal at a selection of clinics based in London using the latest techniques with GMC-registered doctors and surgeons.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Laser vs Chemical Ablation for Varicose Veins

Laser and chemical ablation are generally considered to be the best options nowadays for treating varicose veins. Both are noninvasive techniques using new technology.

Once upon a time, the main treatment for varicose veins was surgical vein stripping, but this involved a much longer recovery period than either of the newer options.

Laser/Thermal Ablation

Laser ablation uses intense heat to destroy the vein from within. The technique is called ‘endovenous laser ablation’ or ‘EVLA‘. Endovenous means inside the vein, laser is the instrument used and ablation refers to destroying the vein.

This technique is carried out under local anaesthetic and offers quick recovery, minimal scarring and excellent outcomes.

Chemical Ablation

By contrast, chemical ablation uses an injectable substance instead of heat. This substance is called a ‘sclerosant’ and works to break down the vein from within. The treatment is known as ‘sclerotherapy‘ (for thread veins) or ‘foam sclerotherapy‘ (for varicose veins or larger thread veins).

This technique has minimal side-effects and like EVLA, offers quick recovery, minimal scarring and excellent outcomes.

Which Procedure?

Choosing the most appropriate treatment depends on the nature of the veins. EVLA is generally considered the newest solution, but in some cases, chemical treatment may be more appropriate or more cost effective.

Sometimes a combination of both approaches may be beneficial for optimum results.

Cosmedics’ London Vein Treatment Centre offers an exclusive combination treatment ‘Tumescent Foam Sclerotherapy‘.

The best way to understand which treatment is most appropriate is to have a consultation with a Vascular Surgeon, including a duplex scan to give full visibility on the vein functioning from within.

Varicose Vein Treatment

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information, please complete the form to the right hand side or call 020 7386 0464.

Exclusive Tumescent Foam Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins

An exclusive new treatment for varicose veins is now available at Cosmedics Skin Clinics’ London Vein Centre.

Tumescent Foam Sclerotherapy was developed by The London Vein Centre’s Vascular Surgeon. This unique and exclusive procedure was designed for treating a range of troublesome, uncomfortable and unsightly leg veins in one single session. The treatment encompasses laser treatment for larger varicose veins alongside another approach for smaller varicose veins and larger leg thread veins.

Tumescent Foam Sclerotherapy combines two procedures using just one entry point:

  1. EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation)
  2. Foam sclerotherapy

The delivery of both the laser and the foam sclerotherapy treatment in one session gives a more comprehensive result than could be achieved with either treatment in isolation. The combination of treatments is far more efficient than carrying them out separately, providing many distinct benefits:

  • Ideal for patients who have a series of varicose and thread veins requiring different treatment approaches
  • All-in-one procedure is faster – usually under an hour for each leg
  • Single session is more convenient than having to return for more appointments
  • Smaller amount of sclerotherapy foam is needed
  • Lower risk of inflammatory responses
  • Less discomfort
  • Single incision means faster healing
  • Return to normal activities with minimal disruption
  • No overnight stay
  • Retain mobility – patients walk unaided out of the clinic and return to work the next day

Cosmedics’ founder, Medical Director and Aesthetic Doctor, Dr Ross Perry MBBS explains:

“EVLA treatment has been shown to deliver a permanent success rate of 95.4%, which is fabulous news for those with varicose veins. However, this approach does not work for smaller varicose or larger thread veins and we find that many of our patients will have these alongside their main varicose veins.

“Complementing EVLA laser treatment with foam sclerotherapy means that we can treat a range of different types veins in one session, giving the patient a more thorough result. The advantages of combining the two procedures in one protocol also make it faster, more comfortable and convenient, as well as providing a faster recovery.

“This protocol is exclusive to Mr Sridhar, who treats patients at The London Vein Centre.”

Tumescent Foam Sclerotherapy is carried out in Cosmedics’ Vein Treatment Centre in South West London, where ultrasound technology is available on site to ensure proper assessment and diagnosis.

Varicose Vein Treatment

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information, please complete the form to the right hand side or call 020 7386 0464.

1 in 50 Suffer Chronic Venous Disease Ulcers

Leg Varicose Vein Ulceration

Chronic venous disease in the legs is one of the most common conditions in the Western world with up to 2% – 1 in 50 – suffering from ulceration in the lower extremities. 

Of those patients who have chronic venous insufficiency, a massive 1 in 5 patients are thought to be suffering from leg ulceration at any one time and of these many patients have recurring or ongoing problems with leg ulcers.

Leg Ulcer Problems

leg ulcer bandagesLeg ulceration is a problem which causes considerable discomfort and distress.  Research has shown that patients with leg ulcers on average have a significantly poorer quality of life compared with those who do not have leg ulcers (ref: Persoon et al, 2004; Briggs and Flemming, 2007). There are a series of potential problems resulting from leg ulceration, including:

  • Pain and discomfort
  • Mobility problems
  • Financial problems due to inability to work
  • Leaking ulcers, sometimes with bad smell
  • Social isolation or self-isolation due to poor self-image
  • Discomfort and inconvenience of wearing bulky bandages

Symptom Not Cause

It is important to note that leg ulcers are not in themselves a diagnosis, they are a symptom of having varicose veins.

Therefore, while ulceration is generally treated with bandages and medication to heal the skin, this is treating the symptom without addressing the root cause.

Varicose veins can now be treated with advanced laser treatment in the form of EVLA laser treatment -Endovenous Laser Ablation.  Success rates are in excess of 95% and there is no requirement to have lengthy recovery time off work.

Unfortunately, this treatment is very rarely available on the NHS. Due to funding issues, all but the very worst cases of varicose veins are classed as a ‘cosmetic’ problem and therefore ineligible for treatment.

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private treatment for thread veins and at their London Vein Treatment Centre, they also offer varicose vein treatment with ultrasound scanning for proper diagnosis of any ‘underlying’ vein problems.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

New! – Binge-Watching TV Circulation Warnings

Is binge-watching box sets bad for our health?

Binge-watching TV box sets is more popular than ever, as new statistics have revealed.

  • More than half of UK adults binge-watch back to back episodes at least once a month
  • Over 10 million Brits admit losing sleep due to being engrossed in TV

New! Magazine investigated the health consequences of binge-watching TV.

The feature invited Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, to give his professional opinion on the health risks associated with excessive TV.

Dr Ross Perry

Dr Ross Perry regularly provides expert comment and advises the media on a range of skincare and health-related issues.

He has particular expertise in skin surgery mole removal, sun damage and melanoma; having removed thousands of moles in his career, both within the NHS and privately through Cosmedics Skin Clinics.

Binge Watching Health Risks

Dr Ross explained two of the key risks:

Bingeing and Ballooning

“Sitting on the sofa for hours at a time leaves less opportunity for physical activity.”

“Also, while watching, we tend to indulge in treats such as crisps, cakes or sweets and sugary or alcoholic drinks.”

“Doing less and consuming more means that the body is not able to use the extra calories, so over time, the result will be weight gain.”

“Exercise helps to keep heart, bones and muscles strong.  It also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and some cancers.  So it is really important to have an active lifestyle.”

Posture Problems

“Staying on the sofa for too long encourages bad posture.

“Slumping exerts the maximum amount of pressure on spinal discs and also stretches muscles, nerves and ligaments, causing back pain.

“Office workers are warned against staying in the same position for hours on end and experts advise 5-10 minutes of activity an hour.  The same advice applies to those watching a lot of TV.  Stand up and move around every so often, to stretch the muscles a bit.

Circulation Breakdown

The feature also highlighted the potentially fatal consequences for the venous system, as being stationary can allow blood clots to develop, as blood pools instead of being pumped round back to the heart; particularly in the lower leg.

The New! article explains:

“…a Japanese Study from last year found every additional two hours sat in front of the TV each day increased the risk of fatal pulmonary embolism by 40 per cent. And the risk of clotting is heightened if you’re a smoker or on the pill. So it’s vital to move your legs regularly to increase circulation and reduce the risk of clots.”

The study referred to was published in the American Heart Association journal ‘Circulation’ and showed that deaths from a pulmonary embolism were 2.5 times greater among those who watched TV 5 or more hours, compared to participants who watched TV less than 2.5 hours each day.

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private treatment for thread veins  and varicose veins at their London Vein Treatment Centre. They also offer varicose vein ultrasound scanning for proper diagnosis of any ‘underlying’ vein problems.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

EVLA Laser Varicose Vein Treatment Video

The London Vein Treatment Centre’s latest video features a patient’s experience of EVLT/EVLA laser treatment for bulging and twisted varicose veins in the legs. 

The patient’s cycling hobby means that he is fit and healthy, but unfortunately still has varicose veins.

Cycling does not cause varicose veins – see our latest article Cyclists and Varicose Veins.  However, due to lower body fat and cycling shorts, cyclists who do suffer from varicose veins find that they’re very noticeable.

Murray attended the London Vein Treatment Centre, where he had a consultation with a Vascular Surgeon. This included ultrasound scan of the varicose veins to fully diagnose and understand the problem.

The patient then went ahead with Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) varicose vein treatment.

Patient Review of EVLA/EVLT

The patient described the experience, saying:

“The procedure itself only took an hour or so and now I’m all bandaged up and ready to go and get on with the rest of my day.”

“The procedure that they do at Cosmedics for treating varicose veins is really state of the art. The doctor is a specialist who clearly know what he’s doing and the whole procedure is really quite painless and I’d highly recommend it to anyone else.”

“I don’t think I realised quite how ugly my leg looked beforehand, but I’m really pleased with the fact that it’s been treated and it now just looks perfectly normal.”

EVLA/EVLT Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins

EVLA stands for Endovenous Laser Ablation. EVLT is another word for the same procedure and stands for Endovenous Laser Therapy.

The laser treatment is a high-tech revolution in the treatment of varicose veins. Treatment uses focused laser energy to destroy the affected veins quickly and effectively. The success rate is 95%+, much better than traditional surgery.

Patients find that the procedure is very convenient compared to traditional surgery, it takes around an hour and there is no unpleasant recovery or overnight stay required. Clients can attend the clinic on a walk-in/walk-out basis.

EVLA Treatment Results

Before and After Photo

varicose veins ankles treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private varicose vein treatment including EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

Varicose Vein Treatment

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Cyclists and Varicose Veins

Pawel Poljanski Exposes Post-Race Veins

Polish cyclist Pawel Poljanski put out a photo of post-race legs on social media during the Tour de France, revealing massively enlarged leg veins.

The image of his bulging veins went viral across the world and many wondered whether cycling was good or bad for the veins. With such swollen veins, would there be a greater chance of developing varicose veins in the future?

Cyclists and Leg Veins

cyclists leg veinsFirstly, it’s important to remember that the veins are designed to dilate under extreme pressure caused by higher blood flow, which is a result of intensive exercise. When a competitive cyclist is cycling for a days race, the blood pumps far faster through the veins, making them appear larger.

Blood normally flows through the legs about one litre per leg, per minute, but that can increase up to 10 times during vigorous activity, causing the veins to swell.

Veins will also expand to disperse body heat, another factor.

Finally, cyclists have relatively low body fat, which makes veins more noticeable and prominent.

However, the swollen veins do go down within a few hours and are not indicative of future vein problems.

In fact, experts say that cyclists face no larger risk of developing varicose veins that anyone else and that those who stand on their feet all day, such as hairdressers or shop workers, are at greater risk.

Thread Veins and Varicose Veins

Thread veins and varicose veins are vascular problems which occur when the veins have become damaged and blood can’t flow efficiently through them. The blood pools, which places further pressure on the damaged vein, so the pooling becomes worse.

Varicose veins are characterised by lumpy, twisted, blue/purplish veins. The condition can cause swelling, ulceration, eczema, pain, throbbing and a whole range of other unpleasant symptoms.

Varicose Vein Treatments

EVLA laser varicose vein removal is viewed as the gold-standards solution for varicose veins.

This procedure is is carried out on a day case basis and uses local anaesthetic. Recovery is very quick and patients are able to walk unaided to return home. There is no need for an overnight stay and patients can return to normal activities much faster. Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private varicose vein treatment including EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

Other Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Established in 2003, Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer thread vein removal at a selection of clinics based in London using the latest techniques with GMC-registered doctors and surgeons.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

StyleNest Review Thread Vein Removal

Varicose Veins, Spider Veins

How To Prevent Them And How To Get Rid Of Them

‘Stylenest’ website give the modern woman advice, recommendations and reviews on fashion, beauty, home style, hotels and travel.

They recently sent Danielle Hudson to visit Dr Ross Perry at Cosmedics’ London Vein Treatment Centre to review treatment for troublesome leg veins. She explains:

“I had my first spider vein pop up on my right calf aged just 17, despite being really sporty and active (I suspect it was caused by standing for hours on end at my first job as a sales assistant in Miss Selfridge and I’m sure my love of high heels didn’t help) as the years have passed and the spider veins have increased, so has my hatred for them!”

Standing for long periods is a prime cause of thread veins, together with excess weight, pregnancy, smoking. However, once they’ve appeared, vein problems won’t just go away again, as the vein is damaged and won’t just get better on its own.

Danielle sought treatment at Cosmedics’ London Vein Treatment Centre with Dr Ross Perry. She explains that there are a number of different treatments, depending on the nature of veins, so it’s important to see a doctor experienced in treatment of vein conditions. She goes on:

“Doctor Ross decided to treat my spider veins with the microsclerotherapy technique, which luckily for me, is the simplest of all the procedures. A super fine needle is inserted into each broken capillary and a sticky, sugar solution is administered- sticking the capillary closed. When the broken capillary is sealed in this way, blood can no longer travel through it and the capillary is therefore no longer visible. For all you needle-phobes out there, please don’t worry about the injection part of the treatment; the needle is so fine you can barely feel it (truthfully!) the part that is slightly uncomfortable comes from the sugar solution, which feels a bit stingy. This only last a few minutes though.

stylenest thread vein results“After the treatment, you need to wear support stockings for a week to keep the treated capillaries compressed and you mustn’t exercise (as a boost in circulation could ‘unstick’ the treated capillaries). Once you remove the support stockings and the plasters you may get a shock at how bruised the area looks, this is totally normal but it does take a while to disappear. You may also have some brown spots due to the iron in the blood, these will also fade.

“The results are unbelievable! Such a simple treatment, yet with incredible results.”

Thread Veins Treatments

Sclerotherapy is a treatment which gets rid of thread veins on the legs or thighs. A special injection is delivered into the vein where it damages the structure of the vessel and destroys its ability to carry blood. The vein will then disappear and blood will simply flow elsewhere, leaving the skin appearing clearer.

Laser treatment is a very popular option for dealing with thread veins. It is fast and efficient, using laser energy to destroy the affected veins so that blood flows instead through other healthier veins. This is available in selected vein treatment centres as advanced equipment is required. Cosmedics’ London Vein Treatment Centre based in Putney offers the latest laser solution for thread veins.

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private treatment for thread veins and at their London Vein Treatment Centre, they also offer varicose vein treatment with ultrasound scanning for proper diagnosis of any ‘underlying’ vein problems.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Millions of Workdays Lost Due to Veins

4.6 Million Work Days

USA

Vein disease is estimated to account for more than 4.6 million workdays a year in the USA alone.

The impact of vein problems should not be underestimated. Serious leg vein problems are not just unsightly – although this can involve unpleasant rashes, skin discoloration and even scarring. Apart from the cosmetic problems, venous disease can also cause severe discomfort with pain and swelling, making patients less mobile. When skin problems occur, such as stubborn ulcers or wounds, it makes the situation harder still and in severe cases, patients are forced to take time off work.

The repercussions for companies mean having to deal with unanticipated employee absences, with additional cost for temporary staff. Gross that up across the country and it makes an impact on the economy.

Yet having leg veins is not something that people have to live with forever. There are now modern treatments which can remove varicose and/or thread veins effectively.

The latest EVLA laser treatment is a world away from traditional vein stripping. Success rates are in excess of 95% and there is no requirement to have lengthy recovery time off work.

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private treatment for thread veins and at their London Vein Treatment Centre, they also offer varicose vein treatment with ultrasound scanning for proper diagnosis of any ‘underlying’ vein problems.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.