Gorgeous legs in time for summer: Dr. Karl Schwarz, Clinique K founder and medical director of Westmount, shares his recommendations.

With temperatures rising and the sun shining, Spring is already in full swing. That also means that summer season is just around the corner. Summer is a time when we happily show off more skin. We wear bathing suits, shorts and dresses, and our bare legs are often on display for all to see.

Summer may be a time for sun and fun, but for some people it is a time of anxiety. Some body complexes and problem areas are magnified. This is the case for legs, especially when it comes to visible veins or varicose veins, or the cellulite that we would like to see disappear!

In this article, our founder and medical surgeon, Dr. Karl Schwarz, shares different solutions for treatment of visible veins, varicose veins, and cellulite, in order to enhance your legs and regain a feeling of confidence and freedom. There is no ultimate cure for visible veins and varicose veins, but certain treatments can reduce the pain and appearance.

Let's start with visible veins and varicose veins.

Veins can appear as a result of a circulation issue that causes a buildup, which enlarges the veins and makes them more visible.

Found most often on the legs, veins and varicose veins can be made up of a network of affected veins and can look a bit like a spider's web, hence the name "spider veins".

It is estimated that 15% to 30% of the population has varicose veins. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to have them. The first visible spider veins and varicose veins usually begin in your mid-30s, and can increase with age.

The causes and symptoms

Visible veins and varicose veins can be caused by pregnancy, prolonged standing or sitting, excess weight, physical inactivity, lack of muscle tone in the legs, smoking, etc. It should also be noted that this condition is often hereditary.

When visible veins are related to blood circulation, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Heaviness and/or fatigue in the legs
• Pain or cramps
• Swelling (edema)
• Appearance of varicosities (or small red or bluish vessels visible under the skin)
• Change in skin color
• Venous ulcers
• Eczema

Dr. Schwarz offers solutions to love our legs this summer

To help you see more clearly, Dr. Karl Schwarz recommends 3 possible treatments to counter the appearance of varicose veins or simply to get rid of them:

1. Sclerotherapy: a non-invasive treatment by injection

Did you know that most varicose veins and spider veins are treatable by sclerotherapy? Sclerotherapy is a treatment during which a saline solution is injected into the veins, irradiating the greatest number of visible veins possible.

The appearance of the veins decreases after each treatment. This treatment is virtually painless and is usually repeated every few weeks until the veins disappear completely.

Recommended areas to treat?

Since varicose veins are usually located on the legs, the ankles and the feet are the parts of the body most often treated.

This treatment lasts approximately 45 minutes and costs $250 per session.

You will be able to resume your usual activities immediately after the treatment.

To assess your situation and recommend the appropriate treatment, a consultation with the nurse injector, supervised by Dr. Schwarz, is necessary. The treatment can be done immediately following the consultation.

Jessica Brown, nurse-injector at Clinique K Westmount since 2018, has specialized in the treatment of visible veins (i.e. sclerotherapy) for about ten years.

2. Candela Vbeam Laser Pigmentation Treatment

Dr. Schwarz's Clinique K also offers treatments for visible veins and visible broken blood vessels using Candela's Vbeam laser.

The Vbeam laser is used to treat dilated blood vessels, which is why it is referred to as a "vascular laser". The light emitted by the Vbeam is absorbed by hemoglobin, the protein present in the red blood cells of the vessels, thus reducing the redness in the treated area.

In addition to treating spider veins and broken blood vessels, the Vbeam tackles skin issues like rosacea, redheads (ruby angiomas), port wine stains (planar angiomas), birthmarks, redness, vascular lesions and even some scars.

In general, you can begin to see results after a few days and improvements with each session.

Broken veins and blood vessels require an average of 2-3 sessions. No recovery time is necessary following the treatment, which makes it attractive for many patients.



Here are some results following a Vbeam laser treatment.

Source photo: Candela, site web, 2023 Candela Medical - Science. Results. Trust.| North America

How many sessions do you need to see results?

The number of sessions depends on the size of the varicose veins, the areas to be treated, and the technique chosen by our medical team.

The treatment is virtually painless, takes about 45 minutes, and costs $450 per session.

A consultation with one of our laser specialists, supervised by Dr. Karl Schwarz, is necessary. This first consultation is essential since it will allow you to examine the appearance of your skin, and to diagnose the care and treatment best suited to your case. The treatment can be done during the same appointment.

Issa Lozano, skin care specialist and highly trained laser technician at Clinique K Westmount, has more than 15 years of experience in laser vein treatment.

How to choose between injection or laser treatments for visible veins

Patients will most often choose a treatment based on personal preference. However, Dr. Schwarz recommends the use of sclerotherapy in the case of larger veins, while VBeam laser treatment is preferable for smaller and/or more diffuse veins.

3. Surgical intervention

If the veins are larger than 4-5mm, it is recommended to consult a doctor specialized in the treatment of varicose veins, otherwise known as a "phlebologist". They may suggest more substantial surgery, a treatment with endovenous laser varicose vein surgery or ultrasound guided injections.

“If they are not good candidates for injection or laser treatment, we refer our patients to trusted phlebologists.”

Dr. Schwarz's Recommendation: If your goal is to prevent or decrease the appearance of visible veins and varicose veins, give yourself a head start.

Dr. Schwarz mentions that the best way to lessen or prevent visible veins and varicose veins from getting worse is to have a healthy lifestyle. Wearing compression stockings can also help.

"There is no secret. Be physically active, eat healthy and avoid smoking. This is the best way to look and feel great!”

Cellulite: a long-term solution

Cellulite is a deformation of the fatty tissue located just under the skin, giving an orange peel appearance that looks like fatty dimples.

It is estimated that over 90% of women have cellulite. So… you are not alone.

Armed with the knowledge that this issue is a widespread for a large part of the female population, Dr. Schwarz has applied himself to finding the best solution available on the market.

CELLFINA: GOODBYE CELLULITE

Clinique K offers an effective and state-of-the-art treatment to eradicate cellulite, Cellfina, created to offer women a long-term solution to their cellulite problems. It is a minimally invasive procedure that dramatically improves the appearance of dimples in the buttocks and on the outer parts of the thigh.

Cellfina's technology fights cellulite by destroying and removing fibrous tissue that lies just below the surface of the skin, allowing it to soften and become smooth. The results of this new method for eliminating cellulite can be seen in just three days, and can last up to more than three years.

A Cellfina cellulite treatment takes approximately 45 minutes. It is performed in the surgery room by a qualified doctor. Thanks to the use of anesthetic, most patients describe very little discomfort during the Cellfina treatment.

Cellfina costs approximately $6,000. This depends on the extent of the treatment required and therefore may vary for each patient. The surgeon will review your situation in detail during your consultation.

Source photo: Cellfina, site web, 2023. Cellulite Reduction Treatment - Cellfina^®