We all have veins that run through multiple layers of our body, these veins supply our heart and lungs with the oxygen we need through our blood. Sometimes veins can become restricted and blood flow becomes a problem, it can result in the enlargement of veins and the pooling of blood in the restricted parts of the vein. This can result in the vein becoming visible on the surface of the skin, which is called varicose veins or spider veins.

Varicose veins are most commonly found to be in the veins of the leg, which usually occurs with people who stand up for a prolonged period of time for example people in hospitality industry, spider veins can be found in any part of the body including the face, ankles, thighs and feet. Spider veins are commonly smaller and thinner than varicose veins and are usually found in small clusters.

If you feel you may have varicose or spider veins you could be suffering from any number of symptoms such as restlessness, swelling, throbbing, numbness or tiredness of the leg in which the varicose vein is contained.
Varicose and spider veins can be treated in 2 different ways these are:

• Endovenous Laser Abortion – ELA is one of the most recent types of treatment for varicose and spider veins using laser light, it seals the underlying incompetent veins that leads to varicose veins. During the ELA procedure a small laser fibre is inserted into the problem vein. ELA is performed under a local anaesthetic so you will be awake throughout the procedure while only feeling little or no discomfort at all. After your treatment of ELA you will need to wear a compression sock, and begin to walk almost immediately. Walking and standing can be resumed the same day.

• Sclerotherapy – Sclerotherapy vein removal is a non surgical procedure which does not use any anaesthetic . It can be used to treat various size veins using a very small and fine needle. During this treatment a small amount of ‘sclerosing solution’ is injected into your problem veins. The use of the very fine needle means that there is little discomfort when undertaking this procedure, and multiple veins can be done at one time. There is also the option of having ultrasounds guided sclerotherapy (UGS) this means that guided by ultrasound, underlying problem veins can be found quicker and easier, and therefore more treatable.

If varicose of spider veins are causing you problems with walking, playing sports, or even just causing you general discomfort, do not hesitate to contact your medical professional as the procedure is quick and easy and can leave you being able to walk within 30 minutes of the treatment ending.

Experience a new sense of vitality and life when you undergo varicose vein removal. Varicose veins need to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to ensure permanent removal of your problem veins. Varicose veins occur due to valve weakness in underlying deeper veins.

Varicose vein clinics offer up to date services, including Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy and Endovenous Laser Ablation. They utilise the latest equipment and most modern techniques to assess and treat leg veins. Your leg veins normally allow blood to travel from your feet in an upwards direction towards your heart.

This flow is aided by the pumping action of the foot and calf muscles, valves allow blood to flow up the leg towards the heart and close again to stop the blood flowing back down under gravitational forces. Varicose veins develop when these valves stop working properly and as a result the blood starts to flow downwards, this leads to higher pressure within the veins due to pooling of the blood and consequently varicose veins develop.

More commonly varicose veins develop in women, but they are also known to occur in men. Most commonly there is a family history of varicose veins caused by a hereditary weakness in the vein wall or vein valves.

A common cause of varicose veins is pregnancy. Due to pregnancy the hormone oestrogen relaxes vein walls, increased circulating volume of blood to supply the mother and baby, and also the enlarged uterus which restricts the return of blood from the legs and allows pooling and increased vein pressures in the pelvis and legs.

Standing for long periods such as in occupations like nursing, hairdressing and hospitality are also thought to play a role in the development of varicose veins. Obesity and severe trauma can also be a major factor.

Endovenous laser ablation or ELA is one of the more recent technologies available to treat leg veins, using laser light to seal the incompetent underlying veins that lead to varicose veins. During the procedure, a small laser fibre is inserted into the underlying incompetent vein, the vein then thermally ablates and closes, thus meaning that the vein get absorbed into the body naturally. After treatment for your varicose veins you will need to wear compression socks, so as to make sure that the flow of blood continues properly and that you have no recurring problems.

The vein adheres to itself (called occlusion), closes and forms scar tissue which is absorbed by the body over time. The procedure is ‘Ultrasound Guided’ because the treating practitioner uses an ultrasound machine to image the vein and guide their injections. This means that they can see all the parts of the incompetent (failed) vein and treat even the very small branches. There is no cutting of the vein and this procedure is literally ‘walk-in walk-out’ you can go back to work the same day.

Compression stockings need to be worn for two weeks after the procedure and you need to walk for 30min per day. This procedure is particularly effective for recurrent varicose veins after vein surgery. Recurrent veins tend to form a network of small veins making a second surgical intervention difficult, these smaller networks can be seen and treated easily with the guidance of the ultrasound.

Also most people who have had surgery don’t want to go back! This excellent technique eliminates the need for hospital admission, general anaesthetic and weeks off work. It really is the way of the future for varicose vein treatment. No longer suffer with the pain and discomfort of varicose veins, be treated quickly and effectively to regain that much needed boost in your quality of life.

Varicose veins are caused by the one-way valves in your veins failing and letting blood flow the wrong way. That is- back down the leg. This increased blood flow creates more pressure on the vein and eventually it dilates and forms a varicose vein.

The only way to treat varicose veins used to be with vein surgery, also known as ‘stripping and ligation’ this painful operation needed to be done is hospital with a general anaesthetic and you required two weeks off work after the procedure. There is now available in Australia a relatively new technique called ‘Endovenous Laser Ablation’ or ELA.

This technique involves inserting a laser fibre in to the incompetent (failed) vein and using the light energy to ‘heat seal’ the vein. The vein walls stick together and form scar tissue. This is then absorbed by the body over time. There is no cutting, no hospital admission, no general anaesthetic and you can be back at work the next day. The long term results for ELA are also much better than for the traditional stripping procedures.

At five years’ post surgery about 40% of people will have recurrent varicose veins. At five years’ post ELA less than 1% of people will have had a recurrence. Compression stockings must be worn for two weeks after ELA.

This procedure represents the way of the future for vein treatment and in the USA has become the treatment of choice for varicose veins, with more ELA procedures being performed than traditional surgery. For anyone with varicose veins ELA represents a more comfortable, less disruptive procedure with a much better long term outcome, which can benefit you in a range of positive ways.