What is it and how does it help?
If you have visible leg veins – including fine purple spider veins, coarser reticular green veins, and large bulging varicose veins – you might want to consider sclerotherapy or endovenous laser ablation. It’s an extremely safe and effective way to get rid of them.
Before treating varicose veins, a Duplex scan is required to map the entire superficial venous network so that no ‘hidden’ varicosities are missed. The map provides information on the degree of venous reflux or incompetence as well as vein lumen diameter. Up to 50% of patients with fine spider veins may have associated larger vein problems that may not be immediately obvious or visible.
How does it work?
Sclerotherapy is the injection of sclerosants into abnormal veins with a fine needle. The sclerosant irritates the inner lining of the injected veins, and in combination with compression stockings, encourage the treated vein to collapse and shrivel. Blood no longer flows through the treated vessels, which over time becomes absorbed and recycled by the body. Many smaller tributaries can be simply and effectively treated with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of varicose veins uses a fibreoptic laser to heat-ablate intraluminal vein segments. EVLA offers high efficacy with low side effects/downtime and is considered a valid alternative to surgical stripping of varicose veins. EVLA has a recanalisation (failure) rate of 5% over five years and is more effective than ultrasound guided sclerotherapy for larger diameter veins.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy is another technique, used in our treatment room, to remove large varicose veins. The procedure consists of an injection of local anaesthetic around the varicose veins. Small hooks are used to remove the varicose vein.
This is done over a period of approximately 1-hour. You will be required to wear a bandage for 2 days after which time you will wear a compression stocking for approximately 10 days.
Cyanoacrylate (Venablock) Glue is a recent innovation in modern varicose vein treatment. The medical grade adhesive glue is delivered to the varicose veins via direct needle injections or a soft catheter. VenaBlock Glue is an alternative to surgical stripping of varicose veins. It is less invasive and associated with minimal downtime and complications. It is often used in conjunction with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS).
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- Phlebectomy – Before
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- Phlebectomy – 1 week post treatment
Download the “Treatment of Varicose Veins” article Download “A guide to Sclerotherapy” article
Download the “Sclerotherapy FAQ” article
Download the “Endovenous Laser Ablation” article
Download the “Phlebectomy” article Download the “Lipoedema” article
Cyanoacrylate (VenaBlock) Glue Injections
Dr Lim & Dr Elvy now conducts all leg vein treatments here uRepublic Cosmetic Dermatology & Veins. Ask your GP for a referral to see Dr Lim or Dr Elvy.
Related uRepublic Links:
Leg Veins & Varicose Veins Sydney
If you’d like to know more about our Phlebology practice visit: legveinssydney.com.au