Treatment for Varicose Veins in Melbourne

How to Treat Varicose Veins in Melbourne

Healthy veins consist of one-way valves designed to help blood flow back to your heart. Varicose veins occur when these veins stop working properly, causing blood to pool in the veins and stretch them. This pooling is what makes them visible under your skin.

Most of the abnormal veins that stop functioning aren’t necessary for healthy blood circulation. This means they can be safely eliminated in non-surgical, outpatient procedures. As leading providers of vein care procedures, we’ll find the right treatment plan for you, depending on the severity of the varicose veins and where they appear on your body.

Available Treatments for Varicose Veins in Melbourne

Varicose veins can be addressed by a variety of minimally invasive procedures, including:

• Sclerotherapy
• Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS)
• Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT)
• Cyanoacrylate vein glue
• Ambulatory phlebectomy

Your Vein Care specialists use safe procedures to remove varicose veins, with a view to eliminating any symptoms of pain and discomfort whilst restoring the appearance of the affected area.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Depending on the particulars of each case and your personal preferences, Vein Care offers a range of injection-based and laser treatment for varicose veins, including:

• Sclerotherapy and Microsclerotherapy: This involves injecting a special solution using a micro-needle directly into the affected vein. This causes the vein wall to collapse after which it is dissolved and absorbed naturally by your immune system.
• Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy: An ultrasound is used to guide the injection of a special solution, enhancing the accuracy of sclerotherapy treatment. This is ideal when affected veins are less prominent or when there are several in a localised area.
• Endovenous Laser Therapy: An advanced laser treatment for varicose veins, this involves heating affected veins so they shrink and close. The problem veins are sealed off and blood flows through other nearby veins instead.
• Cyanoacrylate – Vein Glue: A newer treatment method that involves injecting a special surgical super glue into affected veins under ultrasound guidance. This fast and relatively painless procedure seals the vein and then the glue is absorbed by the body.
• Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Used to target more severe, visibly bulging veins, this treatment involves making tiny incisions and pulling out affected veins with a special hook. The incisions are so small that stitches are not necessary.

These treatments can be completed in as few as 30 to 90 minutes, with side effects in most cases being limited to mild tenderness and discomfort. Depending on the treatment, full results are visible within 2 to 6 weeks.

Surgical Treatment

In some, more severe cases of varicose veins, your Vein Care specialist may recommend surgical procedures such as:

• Surgical Stripping: Removing the entire affected vein from the leg
• Phlebectomy: The process of removing affected branches of a vein

While non-invasive varicose veins treatment is suitable for most cases, surgery may, in rare cases, be the best treatment option. Your vein care specialist will talk you through the key considerations and whether surgery is suitable for you.

Compare Treatments for Varicose Veins in Melbourne

This table is a basic comparison of the treatment options, outlining factors such side effects and the length of time it takes to see results and recover from treatment.

As every patient has different requirements, it’s best to have a private consultation to determine the best treatment approach for your lifestyle and needs. Varicose veins treatment cost depends on the approach taken and number of treatments required.

Alternatives to Vein Surgery

If you’re looking for an alternative to standard treatment, varicose veins can occasionally be managed through certain self-care therapies and lifestyle changes, including:

• Wear compression stockings to minimise swelling and support circulation
• Follow a low-salt diet to prevent swelling from water retention
• Stay active for better circulation
• Avoid long periods of sitting or standing
• Keep your legs elevated above your hips when sitting and resting
• Manage body weight to limit pressure on leg veins
• Eat healthy foods and take supplements to soothe aching legs
• Avoid certain clothing, such as high heels and pants worn tight around the waist

Most of these self-care remedies are more effective as prevention and management tactics rather than reversing the appearance of already prominent varicose veins.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Vein Conditions

To resolve the symptoms of varicose veins effectively, proper diagnosis and personalised treatment plans are key. The process starts with an initial consult, where we look at common symptoms like:

• Blue or dark purple-coloured veins, most commonly on your legs
• Veins that look like they are bulging or twisting underneath the skin
• Chronic aching, heaviness and hard to define leg soreness
• Swelling, throbbing, burning or cramping in the legs
• Discolouration, redness and itching around prominent veins
• Skin hardening or ulcers localised to one area (keep in mind this may indicate more serious vascular diseases)

Once we rule out the possibility of other vascular diseases causing your symptoms, our team will determine an appropriate treatment plan. This plan will be designed based on the location, number and severity of affected veins as well as your preferences regarding the treatment options available to you.

Common Causes of Varicose Veins

It’s important to look at some of the factors that influence the appearance of varicose veins. This helps your clinician determine an effective treatment plan that will consist of in-office procedures as well as recommended lifestyle changes. Risk factors that contribute to the appearance of varicose veins include:

• A family history of varicose veins
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Menopause
• Poor blood flow
• Collagen loss due to natural ageing
• Low body weight, causing veins to become more visible
• Increased pressure from pregnancy or excess weight on the midsection or abdomen, pushing blood to the extremities

While visible varicose veins are not always a serious medical issue, stay aware of any changes in your health and the appearance of your veins. This is especially true if your varicose veins are accompanied by symptoms like pain, itching, aching and general discomfort.

Choose Vein Care for Your Vein Therapy

When you need effective varicose vein treatments, choose Vein Care for expert care that offers relief and renewed confidence. Our expertise, experience, and patient-centred approach ensures the best possible results. An accurate diagnosis and the best plan to correct your condition will minimise your risk of recurrence.

As leading specialists, we use cutting-edge technology as well as a holistic approach to treat vein issues. This entails recommending lifestyle changes alongside surgical or non-surgical treatments to maximise the potential for a positive outcome. Our vein doctors will always advise you of the estimated varicose veins treatment cost upfront, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.