What vein treatments are available to me?

For a long-time the only treatment for large varicose veins was to have them surgically stripped. This requires a general anaesthetic and often a prolonged recovery. Surgery isn’t always successful either – recurrences can occur, meaning further surgery. Smaller veins are never stripped – they’re simply too small – and require non-surgical treatment to achieve a more complete result.

Sclerotherapy has long been an internationally recognised form of non-surgical vein treatment. It involves the injection of a special solution (approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration) into a vein, which irritates the vein wall, causing it to stick together to block any blood flow. Blocking the vein isn't an issue, as blood can still return to the heart via the veins deep within the muscles of the leg. In fact, most of the blood returns to the heart via these deeper veins.

Interestingly, the two sclerosing solutions used at the Alia Clinic are not new. They have been successfully utilised in Australia and overseas for many years – one for more than half a century. However, the way sclerotherapy has been performed has come a long way over the years, and Alia Clinic carries out the following two latest advancements.

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) The same ultrasound machine that is used to map problems within the veins is used to help guide a very fine needle into each varicose vein to inject the sclerosing solution. This makes for very accurate treatment and means that only a small dose of solution is used to treat a large section of a vein.

Foam Sclerotherapy Since 2001, the Alia Clinic has been using sclerosing solution foam. The foam is injected into each vein, causing it to contract. Using a foamy solution means that a larger segment of a vein can be treated at a single time, making the procedure more efficient for the patient. Not only that, foam reflects the soundwaves from the ultrasound, making it easier to inject the right amount in the right place.

 

 

Here is a snapshot of why UGS and foam sclerotherapy is better to treat larger veins over traditionally injected sclerotherapy

~ The complete vein problem can be diagnosed before treatment starts.

~ Less solution is required and fewer sessions are generally needed.

~ Injections are more accurately placed and more easily placed.

~ The solution can be managed along the vein, ensuring that as much vein as possible is exposed to the foam sclerosant.

~ The effectiveness of the treatment can be easily assessed from one treatment to another, allowing a more accurate follow-up to be made.

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Read more about Varicose Veins

Treating problem veins	page 1
More about varicose veins and venous disease	page 2
Types of varicose veins	page 3
What problems do varicose veins cause ?	page 4
Assessing veins	page 4
What vein treatments are available to me ?	page 5
Ultrasound Guided sclerotherapy (UGS)	page 5
Foam sclerotherapy	page 5
How many treatments will I require ?	page 6
What do I need to do after treatment ?	page 6
How long will the results last?	page 6
How much will it cost?	page 6
Where do I go from here?	page 6
The CoolTouch CTEV - the latest treatment for large varicose veins	page 7