FAQ

‏Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged, damaged, lumpy and knotted. They often begin to protrude from the skin when left untreated.

Varicose veins are commonly hereditary and are related to leaky or absent valves in the veins. This trait or predisposition is passed down through generations. However, the varicose veins become pronounced following certain life events or with certain activities.

Age

As we age, veins can lose their elasticity causing them to stretch. As time goes on, they can become larger and larger losing their effectiveness for carrying blood back to the heart.

Pregnancy

‏Veins generally dilate and become stretchy during and following pregnancy due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. This increases the volume of circulating blood during pregnancy. The weight and size of the foetus in the pelvis impairs or inhibits the return of blood from the legs and places extra stress on the leg veins, which results in further stretching of and damage to the vein walls. Over time, this can result in clinical varicose veins.

‏Sonographer, your Specialist Vascular Surgeon will then carefully talk you through the results and provide you with a number of minimally invasive modern techniques to treat your varicose veins, relieve your symptoms and treat the unsightly veins.

The techniques include:

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy: A targeted method which consists of injecting a foam solution into problematic veins. Ultrasound is used during the procedure to ensure accurate and direct treatment of problematic veins.

Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation: This procedure uses radiofrequency heat energy to precisely and effectively treat varicose veins. Heat energy seals shut the problematic veins.

When treating varicose veins, treatment is targeted at the varicose veins, which are damaged veins not efficiently returning blood up the leg due to leaky or missing valves. Once these ineffective veins have been treated and sealed shut, blood is simply diverted into many of the remaining functional veins in the superficial and deep vein system, thus improving venous return to the heart and reducing the symptoms and complications of venous congestion in the legs.

Our modern venous treatments are minimally invasive.

1. Bruising. You should expect mild bruising, however, this generally subsides quickly.
2. Transient Hyperpigmentation.  A small number of patients can experience mild brown staining of the skin following treatment, however this also subsides in time.
3. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). There is a small risk inherent in most procedures and may manifest in calf pain or abnormal swelling. In order to eliminate the risk of DVT, we undertake strict precautions during the procedure, and encourage regular exercise post-procedure.

All minimally invasive vein treatments operate on a “walk-in & walk-out” basis. As such, we encourage all patients to complete a short 20 minute walk immediately following the procedure to minimize DVT risk and post-procedure discomfort.

All patients are encouraged to continue normal activities following the procedure, stay active and well hydrated.

Minimally invasive treatments have proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of varicose veins and their symptoms.

Sclerotherapy has been found to be 70-80% successful.

Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation has been found to be over 90% successful and on par with traditional surgical removal.