You should seek treatment if your veins are causing physical discomfort or affecting your skin. You will benefit from treatment if you experience heavy or tired legs, aches, cramps, swelling at the end of the day, or small dark veins that bleed easily. Seek medical advice immediately if the skin over your lower leg becomes pigmented, itchy, “woody,” or if the veins become tender, inflamed, or develop clots (thrombophlebitis).
Varicose veins are primarily hereditary, meaning you are more likely to get them if a parent or close relative has them. Pregnancy is often the time when women first notice them, and they typically worsen with successive pregnancies. Lifestyle factors like prolonged standing can also exacerbate the condition, increasing swelling and discomfort.
Varicose vein disease is progressive, meaning symptoms and appearance will worsen over time. The extra weight of blood in the enlarged veins exerts pressure on the surrounding skin. Eventually, this constant pressure can damage the skin, leading to venous eczema (rash), brown staining (pigmentation), and even severe skin ulcers that are difficult to heal.
The specific veins we treat successfully will not come back. However, because varicose veins are an ongoing condition, completely new varicose veins may develop over time. In a small percentage of cases, a treated vein may heal itself and reopen. With our good post-treatment follow-up, we can recognise and manage this quickly.
It is highly recommended to treat varicose veins before pregnancy. The increased blood volume and hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause existing varicose veins to become significantly more painful, enlarged, and troublesome.
Your circulation will actually improve. The veins on the surface of the legs only drain blood from the skin and fatty layers (about 10% of the total blood volume in the leg). The deep veins in your muscles handle the remaining 90%. When a faulty surface vein is closed, the blood is naturally rerouted to healthy, functioning veins deep in the leg.
Most of our modern, minimally invasive vein treatments require little to no downtime. Because procedures like Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) and Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) are done in-clinic under local anaesthetic, most patients can return to work the same day or the following day. Heavy manual workers may need slightly more time.
If you have had a standard EVLT or UGS procedure with local anaesthetic, you can generally drive yourself home. However, if light sedation is used to help you relax, you will need to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you.
You can take domestic flights (under 4–5 hours) almost immediately after your treatment. However, for long-haul international flights, which increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), we recommend waiting at least two to three weeks after your procedure.
Dysport® and Botox® are purified proteins extracted from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. They have been used safely for decades in both medical and cosmetic fields to temporarily relax specific muscles, smoothing out wrinkles and lines.
Both Botox® and Dysport® are brand names for Botulinum Toxin Type A and work in the exact same way to relax muscles. Dysport® has been available in New Zealand for over 12 years and was the first botulinum toxin Type A approved here for medical use. The choice between them usually comes down to clinical preference and how an individual patient’s body responds to the product.
Facial expressions like frowning and squinting cause the muscles under the skin to contract. Over time, these contractions create permanent grooves and wrinkles. Dysport® and Botox® temporarily relax these targeted muscles, softening existing lines and preventing new ones from forming.
The effects generally last between three and four months, though this varies from person to person. As the product gradually wears off, your muscle action will return to normal, and expression lines will slowly reappear. Regular maintenance treatments are recommended to keep the skin looking smooth.
No. When administered by highly trained professionals, anti-wrinkle injections simply soften your expression. While you may no longer be able to firmly contract your frown muscles, you will still be able to blink normally, raise your eyebrows, and maintain a natural, refreshed appearance.
There is zero downtime and you can return to work immediately. The most common side effects are temporary mild soreness or slight bruising at the injection site, which can be easily covered with makeup. Very rarely, a patient may experience a temporary drooping eyelid (ptosis), which can be treated with specific eye drops until it resolves.
Absolutely. Men are increasingly choosing anti-wrinkle injections to maintain a relaxed, approachable, and refreshed appearance for both personal and professional reasons. Dysport® is highly effective at softening deep frown lines that might otherwise make a man look stressed, tired, or angry.
Dermal fillers are soft, gel-like substances injected under the skin to restore lost volume. As we age, our face naturally loses bone density and fat, leading to sagging and deeper folds. Fillers plump up these areas, smooth deeper lines, and enhance facial contours. Depending on the product used, results can last from six months to over a year.
Yes, Profhilo® is very different from traditional dermal fillers. While fillers stay in one place to add volume and plumpness, Profhilo® is a bioremodelling injectable. It spreads like honey in a thin layer just under the skin to deeply hydrate from the inside out. It actively stimulates your own collagen and elastin production, leading to firmer, more radiant skin over time.
In most cases, yes. If your varicose veins are causing physical symptoms (such as pain, swelling, or skin changes), treatment is usually classified as a medical necessity rather than a cosmetic procedure. We are affiliated with NIB and Southern Cross.
Because every patient’s veins are different, costs vary depending on the severity of the condition and the type of treatment required (e.g., EVLT vs. Sclerotherapy). We provide a full, transparent cost estimate during your initial consultation and ultrasound mapping session.
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