A medical condition can be a heavy burden, and when people are relieved of it they realise how hard it was to bear, and how good it is to finally be free.
Natalie (37) has a family history of varicose veins and finally had them treated last September, once she had the last of her four children.
While there was the usual heaviness and aching from her ropey leg veins, the main discomfort she suffered was heat, as she wore winter clothes in the height of summer to hide her legs.
“They got worse with each child, especially after our second child. I used to wear jeans and thick tights all year round – I was too embarrassed for anyone to see my legs.” This embarrassment even extended to her own children. “If our three-year-old ever saw them she would put her hand on them to rub them better. She thought they were painful.”
For Karen (38), her veins were more of a medical problem than a cosmetic one. “Mine weren’t nearly as dramatic as many people’s. There was just one vein on my leg that would embarrass me, but I’m a real fluid retention person. I had bad cellulite, I always had restless legs and they would be swollen at the end of the day. Once I had kids they got even worse.”
When her doctor suggested that many of her problems could be due to underlying varicose veins she made an appointment to see a Tauranga-based phlebologist. An ultrasound scan in the initial consultation revealed large underlying varicose veins from her groin to her ankle.
“It’s quite a personal thing to say to someone, ‘I don’t like the way my legs look’, but she was so real and I just felt she wanted to help me solve the problem. The treatment didn’t feel invasive or even particularly painful. Although the compression stockings were a bit of a hassle, I wore them
and followed all the instructions, like exercising and not sitting with my legs crossed, because I wanted the best possible result.”
Like Karen, Natalie found exercise was the best way to relieve discomfort after the procedure. “You have to keep the exercise going – that’s the best way to relieve the discomfort. A couple of weeks later, when I had healed, I got back into classes.”
Last summer both women put on swimsuits and headed to the beach for the first time in ages. For Karen, this meant a tropical holiday – with more even skin tone and less cellulite and fluid retention. Natalie says she just enjoyed being able to join her kids in the water.
“I finally wore shorts during the summer and had a totally different experience – it was great to feel cooler. This is a good time of the year to get your legs done if you want to get them out next summer.”
Dr Anuya specialises in varicose veins, skin cancer medicine and surgery as well as cosmetic medicine.
0800 DR ANUYA