Dr George Mayson is a leading Cosmetic surgeon in Australia.Dr Mayson is affiliated with the following professional bodies. Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (Surgical Fellow and Past Censor-in-Chief/Interim Vice President), American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Society of Cosmetic Breast Surgery, American Board of Laser Surgery. Any surgeon can create bigger breasts simply by inserting implants of any size or shape. However, Dr Mayson's driving philosophy is to create not just bigger breasts but attractive, aesthetic and sensual breasts - breasts that make you feel feminine, attractive and self-confident while still in harmony and in proportion with the rest of your body. To create a beautiful breast requires expertise, an artistic eye and most importantly attention to fine detail - both in your planning stages and during your actual surgery. And, unless contra-indicated, Dr Mayson prefers implants to be placed 'under the muscle' to produce a more natural appearance rather than a round "stuck on" look that can result with implants 'in front of the muscle'.

TYPES OF LEG VEINS

Varicose veins are abnormally dilated and tortuous surface veins greater than 1 mm in diameter. Spider veins on the other hand are the dilated, smaller surface veins measuring less than 1 mm in diameter.

Varicose veins and spider veins are extremely common in Western society. Approximately 20% of all adults develop varicose veins with females being affected slightly more often than males.

Spider veins on the other hand are predominantly a cosmetic problem in women and it is estimated that 50% of all women will at some stage develop spider veins.

Causes:

• Family history plays the most important part in determining whether or not veins will develop. Most patients presenting for treatment will have one or both parents, or immediate family members, similarly affected.
  
  
• Pregnancy can either cause veins to appear for the first time or aggravate existing ones.
  
  
• Hormonal factors by way of the oral contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy and pregnancy are considered contributory to the development of surface veins.
  
  
• Standing for long periods is also regarded to be a contributing factor.
  
  
• Local trauma can sometimes produce a localised area of surface veins at the site of the injury.

WHAT IS SCLEROTHERAPY?

Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for the eradication of both spider veins and varicose veins that do not require surgery. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a chemical substance called a sclerosant directly into the unsightly vein where it irritates the lining of the vessel wall. The resulting reaction causes the vein to progressively shrivel and disappear.

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, since its introduction in the mid-1990s, has proven a major advance in the treatment of large varicose veins previously amenable only to surgery. The technique involves injecting the veins with sclerosant while viewing them on an ultrasound monitor. This enables the sclerosant to be injected precisely where it is needed. Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy produces results comparable to surgery yet is much cheaper and requires no anesthesia or hospitalization - thereby offering a safe and cost-effective alternative to surgical stripping.

Endovenous Laser Therapy (ELT) is the latest treatment for specific types of Varicose Veins. It is of no use for Spider Veins. However, only those clinics specialising in the treatment of leg veins are likely to have one.

WHICH SCLEROSANTS ARE USED? Currently there are three sclerosants approved for use in Australia:

• Saline
  
  
• STS (Sodium Tetradecyl Sulphate)
  
  
• Sclerovein or Aethoxysclerol (Polidocanol)

STS was first introduced in 1946 and Sclerovein/Aethoxysclerol in 1966. For a number of reasons this clinic does not recommend the use of saline. Depending on the veins, either STS or Polidocanol is used, sometimes both.

HOW IS IT DONE?

Sclerotherapy is a very simple procedure and does not involve any hospital admission or anaesthetic. Treatments are carried out in our clinic and you are able to go home or back to work immediately after the treatment. There is no need for time off work after treatment and you can continue your usual work or home duties in the normal way. However, for Sclerotherapy to be successful it is essential that compression stockings be worn for a period anywhere between 7 and 10 days after each treatment, the actual period required depending on the size of the veins being treated.

IS IT PAINFUL?

As ultra-fine needles are used there is very little discomfort from the needle itself. Occasionally there may be a slight stinging sensation from the sclerosant at the site of injection but this usually lasts only about a minute or so.

WILL THE VEINS RECUR AFTER TREATMENT?

If there is no underlying venous problem that requires correction and you have followed all the instructions, treated veins should not recur.

However, it is important to realise that patients with a tendency to varicose veins and who have had their veins treated by whatever means (Surgery or Sclerotherapy) may at a later stage develop new varicose veins. The reason for this is that many people with varicose veins have an inherited weakness in all their leg vein walls and this weakness cannot be corrected by Sclerotherapy or any other means. Consequently this underlying weakness can in time produce new varicose veins, especially if there are additional factors such as prolonged standing, pregnancy or hormonal therapy.