Home > Common Questions

Do I need a referral?

To claim a Medicare rebate a referral is necessary for a specialist vascular duplex assessment and for Ultrasound Guided treatments. A referral is not needed for a standard venous assessment by one of our medical practitioners or for treatment by either surface sclerotherapy or surface laser treatment.

Are there any requirements before treatment?

All treatments are performed on an outpatient basis in the clinic. No general anaesthetic is necessary but local anaesthetic may be used for treatment of deeper veins. We recommend wearing loose fitting clothing and not applying any leg moisturiser on the day of attendance. You may wish to bring shorts to wear during the procedure.

What about treatment during pregnancy?

Leg veins are best managed conservatively during pregnancy by compression stockings. Definitive treatment is usually undertaken after breastfeeding is completed or a minimum of 3 months after delivery.

Who does the treatments?

All treatments are performed by experienced medical practitioners who have been fully trained in the latest leg vein treatment methods. Doctors at our clinic have been successfully treating leg vein problems for over twenty years.

Are treatments painful?

Ultrasound scans involve gel on the surface of the skin so there is no discomfort at all. Sclerotherapy and UGS are not painful because the needle used is very, very fine. As the laser produces a concentrated light beam it can be felt on the skins surface however most patients find this quite tolerable. Ultrasound guided laser or radiofrequency treatments may require some local anaesthetic.

Do I need to wear compression stockings?

Generally the larger the veins treated the more important the need for compression stockings. For large or deep veins treated by Ultrasound guided techniques, compression stockings are usually necessary for 2 weeks. For surface veins treated by surface sclerotherapy, compression with a bandage or stocking may be needed for between a few days up to 2 weeks. For small veins treated by laser, stockings are usually not necessary.

Are there any restrictions after treatment?

Walking after treatment and daily is important. A minimum of 30 minutes steady walking straight after treatment and daily for 2 weeks is recommended. Avoid intense leg exercise (aerobics, long runs, leg weights) for one week. Avoid long hot baths/spa/sauna for two weeks. After sclerotherapy or Ultrasound Guided treatments avoid any air travel for two weeks and long distance plane flights greater than 4 hours for four weeks. Specific medical information will be provided concerning air travel.

How many treatments are necessary?

This will vary between individuals and depend on the type and extent of the problem and the level of improvement required. A treatment plan will be devised at your first consultation. As a guide an average number of treatments is 2-3 treatments for ultrasound guided procedures and 3-4 treatments for sclerotherapy and surface laser treatments.

Will the veins come back after treatment?

If you have a tendency to develop leg veins you will almost certainly develop more in the future. Treating veins can get rid of the veins that are currently present but will not prevent new veins developing in the future.

Can herbal treatments help veins?

Although there are no documented clinical trials proving efficacy there are many anecdotal reports of beneficial effects on venous disease symptoms of some herbal remedies. Horse chestnut extract is the most commonly recommended herbal supplement. There is no evidence that herbal supplements can cause the disappearance of varicose or surface veins.