This is not a particularly uncomfortable procedure and is well tolerated. The amount of discomfort will vary with the individual. The needles used are extremely fine (similar to acupuncture needles) and many are hardly felt at all. The injected solution can sting slightly for short periods of time. If EVLA is used or Phlebectomy performed, then minimal discomfort is experienced as these are performed under local anaesthetic.
This is a walk-in, walkout procedure. Most treatments take about 30 minutes to perform; some may take up to an hour. Following treatment you should be able to return to your normal daily routine, essentially immediately.
Vein disease is usually progressive and if left untreated will likely worsen with time. Symptoms that can occur with untreated varicose veins include: Leg fatigue, heaviness, aching, throbbing, restlessness, tingling, itching, numbness and swelling. More serious complications such as phlebitis, blood clots, and dermatitis and vein ulcers can develop if varicose veins are left untreated.
Blood flow in varicose veins is usually in the wrong direction and impairs the normal circulation. Eliminating/treating these abnormal veins improves the circulation. When veins become abnormal and stop functioning normally our body finds alternative pathways with healthy veins to carry blood back to the heart. This will have occurred by the time you present for treatment. The circulation does not miss varicose veins; in fact it improves without them!
The short answer is no!
No-one really knows why these veins occur and there is no known way to prevent them from developing.
Certain people are 'vein-makers'. Wearing Class 1 venous support stockings, maintaining a normal weight and regular exercise may slow down the process.
Crossing your legs whilst sitting does not cause varicose veins.
Some patients will over time develop recurrent varicose veins and that is why all types of vein treatment are seen as 'control' and not 'cure'. This may be delayed by wearing graduated Class 1 stockings and by walking but cannot be prevented. If one is followed up post therapy regularly, new venous disease will be picked up early before it is difficult to treat and further treatment will usually be by Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy.
Because of this I suggest review of my patients at 3 months, then at 6 months and then yearly.
Clinical assessment relies on what is visible at the skin surface and cannot determine what is occurring in the leg and what the aetiology of the venous disease is. The ultrasound scan can see inside your leg and determine exactly what the cause is and thereby determine as to what the best treatment protocol will be .This ultrasound scan should be performed by a specialist vascular Sonographer as they are experts in this area. The assessment of venous disease by ultrasound can be extremely difficult and this part of the examination is absolutely critical to the type of treatment offered and the outcome. This examination takes between 15 minutes and an hour depending on the complexity.
As part of Specialist Vein Care, we have a Vascular Laboratory, Independent Vascular Ultrasound, where dedicated expert vascular sonographers can perform this examination.
Duplex ultrasound refers to the combination of looking at the anatomy/structure of the vein together with how blood is flowing inside the vein, all together on one image.
Treated veins do not come back, as the body has absorbed them. All forms of vein therapy is a process of control and not cure; one cannot stop a person from developing new veins. This may occur over time. How quickly and how many appear is impossible to predict.
Despite the proven usefulness in the treatment of large varicose veins using Endovenous Laser Ablation, the treatment of leg veins by laser light to the skin has thus far been disappointing. Currently available lasers can be very useful in treating the tiny cosmetic veins facial veins, but have been significantly less effective on leg veins when compared to expert sclerotherapy.
If one has existing varicose veins, these tend to become significantly worse as the pregnancy develops. Phlebologists agree that treatment for varicose veins is best performed before or between pregnancies. One should wait for about 3 months post delivery before undertaking vein therapy.
This depends on several factors, including:
What types of veins are to be treated
Large varicose veins
Comparative to conventional surgery with overall success rate varies between 80-95.5% Compared to surgery however, patients report better symptom improvement and quality of life with less time to return to work (MSAC 2008). This may take up to 3-6 months to settle completely.
Spider Veins
Most patients can expect at least a 70% improvement in the appearancve of their legs. This may take up to 3 months to show maximum benefit.
Therapy is usually extremely effective; yet there are a small number of patients who do not respond adequately to therapy. Treatment of venous disease, be it surgical or non surgical, is a therapy of vein control and not cure. The treatment performed is aimed at dealing with the current problem and cannot prevent the development of new venous disease later on. Some patients therefore may well require future treatments.
Treatment often requires one to two sessions. Very occasionally several may be needed.
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A number of possible complications can occur with both Sclerotherapy and Endovenous Laser Ablation. These include:
