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Vein Disease
What are Varicose Veins?
Who gets varicose veins?
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Education
How does the procedure actually work?
What are the advantages of laser treatment?
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Treatments
What are the treatment options available?
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 FAQ
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Ropy, bulging or knotty appearance of leg veins near the surface of the skin.
Chronic tiredness in legs.
Aching, burning or throbbing legs.
Discoloration around the ankle , itching and a ulcer.
How does the procedure actually work?
The laser energy passes through the fiber into the faulty vein and damages the vein walls, shrinking them and thus closing the vein so that the blood can no longer flow through it.
Is loss of this vein a problem?
No. There are many veins in the leg and after treatment the blood in the faulty veins will be diverted to other normal veins in order to make its way back to the heart.
What are the potential complications of the procedure?
There are potential complications with any medical procedure. however only minimal complications have been reported with the procedure. There may be some post procedural bruising and tenderness and there have been a small number of cases of transient paresthesia (temporary numbness).
Am I at risk from the laser?
If viewed directly the laser light can cause eye damage but you will be given a pair of special glasses to wear to protect your eyes; although this is just a precaution against accidental firing of the laser energy outside the body.
What is the alternative to this treatment?
Surgical ligation and stripping.
Foam Sclerotheropy.
Will my varicose veins return?
By treating the underlying cause of your varicose you have the best chance of them not returning, however no guarantee can be given that varicose veins will not develop again in the future.
How successful is Laser treatment?
Results are now available from patients who were treated up to 5 years ago and show to have been extremely favorable with a success rate greater than 98%. It will normally treat the cause of most varicose veins, but additional or complimentary therapy may necessary in some cases.
What anesthesia is used for the procedure?
Femoral block / Local anesthesia is used for the procedure.
What are the after-effects of the procedure?
Patients may experience some bruising or swelling following varicose vein procedures. Long term, our patients report little to no scarring
How quickly can I resume normal activity?
Patients can walk within few hours following the procedure; they typically resume normal activities within one day. Strenuous activities should be avoided for 7-10 days.
How soon after treatment will my symptoms improve?
Most patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms especially pain within 1-2 days and other within 1-2 weeks following the procedure.
Losing the vein , will it cause any functional problem?
No. These veins are part of the superficial venous system, which is comprised of a number of veins. When a vein's valves become damaged or diseased, it inhibits the proper blood flow out of the leg. In turn, the vein is no longer useful and cannot be repaired. When the diseased vein is ablated (closed) or removed, the blood is rerouted to healthy veins, restoring the proper blood flow.
Does pregnancy cause varicose veins?
Pregnancy does not cause varicose veins; rather, it can aggravate an existing tendency toward the condition. More blood circulates in the body during pregnancy to meet the demands of the developing baby. This increased blood ?ow can burden an already weakened venous system. The growing fetus can also press on the pelvic veins and hinder the passage of blood. Finally, some researchers speculate that hormones present during pregnancy may contribute to dilated vessels.
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