How many treatments are required

ALL ULTRASOUND MAPPING AND TREATMENTS ARE CARRIED OUT AT THE CROWS NEST SURGICENTRE.

Most problem veins on a single leg can be treated in 2-3 sessions of UGS. One leg is treated at a time, so both are usually completed by 5-6 treatment sessions, sometimes even less. Ultrasound assessment of veins with each treatment demonstrates how the last treatment has gone and can display any small tributary vessels that could cause a recurrence. These are treated at that session so the best long-term outcomes can be achieved. Treatments can be done every day or second day, to streamline the process and minimise time in hosiery.

Studies of ultrasound guided sclerotherapy (UGS) on leg veins show excellent long-term results. A short follow-up ultrasound is performed 2-3 months after treatment finishes to ensure the required result has been achieved.

If spider veins and varicose reticular veins also need to be treated, then 1-2 additional sessions may be required.

What happens after treatment?

Specially designed hosiery is used following each treatment on the treated leg. This is fitted at the time of the first treatment.

For larger veins, this is a Grade 2 compression stocking. The purpose of the stocking is two fold. It helps to compress to vessel walls together and allow them to collapse on themselves. It also helps to minimise any blood trapped within the vessel and the pigmentation around the vessel. The risk of inflammation to the vessel is also reduced.

Usually these are worn for two weeks after treatment.

Grade 1 compression hosiery is used for a week following treatment of smaller veins.
Walking is important after treatment, usually for 30 minutes after each session and about the same each day while the stocking is in place. Strenuous exercise, even aerobics and yoga can increase the pressure in the treated veins and disrupt the healing process, so some lifestyle adjustments must be made to get the best from your treatment.

Does sclerotherapy always work?

Some people have a single session or sessions of sclerotherapy and will not need any further treatment ever. Usually, the veins that have been treated will go completely, but others will form with time as sclerotherapy does not fix faulty valves and vein walls. For large veins, UGS has excellent long term results.

For smaller veins a 50-85% improvement can be expected with a single treatment course. Treatment of smaller vessels can be repeated, but not for a minimum of 2 months.

How much will the treatment cost?

Varicose veins are a medical problem and injection treatment is covered by Medicare. Also, the Medicare Safety Net covers 80% of the fees for out-patient services once a threshold (either $500 or $1000) is reached, so a large proportion of the cost of vein treatments is reimbursed. As a very rough guide, your out of pocket expenses would be about $500 for the treatment of spider veins and $1500-$2000 for extensive varicose veins and endovenous laser treatment. At the time of your consultation (there is no cost for this), you will be given a much better idea of the total cost of your treatments, though usually you will need to have the ultrasound mapping so the extent of the problem can be established first.

Where do I go from here?

The easiest way to see if you can benefit from UGS and sclerotherapy treatment is to fill in the online vein consultation form or call the ALIA Clinic on 99061555 for an appointment time. You can consult online now and we will get back to you ASAP with more information on costs.

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