Phlebologist, Vein Specialist and Vascular Surgeon: what they do

Difference Between a Phlebologist, Vein Specialist and Vascular Surgeon

February 7, 2021 The Vein Institute

So what is the difference between a Phlebologist, a Vein Specialist and a Vascular Surgeon?

When seeking any medical treatment, it is important to know your doctor is qualified. Also, as there are a few types of doctors in Australia who treat varicose veins, it is important to understand their experience, qualifications and capability. A starting point might be to look at:

  1. Specialty of the doctor,
  2. Level of training in the particular procedure
  3. The number of procedures they’ve performed
  4. Their outcomes after performing the procedure

Venous treatments performed by experienced doctors are generally quite safe and carry little risk. Nonetheless, it’s important that you’re entirely comfortable with your treating doctor. So here is a little help to understand the different doctors who can treat you.

What is a Phlebologist?

This title generally applies to doctors who have experience in treating veins. Even though it is not a formal title approved by the APHRA (Medical Board), Phlebologists will often have significant expertise in the non-surgical treatment of varicose veins.  They may spend years of training gaining these skills to perform endovenous laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy or Venaseal procedures. The Australian College of Phlebology and the ANZ Society of Phlebology are 2 organizations in Australian who help with the training of Australian doctors perform vein treatments. In Australia “Phlebologists” have been pioneers over the past 2 decades in improving standards of vein care globally.

Vein Specialist

This title is generally used by Australian specialists who have expertise in vein treatments. They may be members of the Royal Australian College of Radiology, Royal Australian College of Surgeons and Royal Australian College of Dermatologists. It is not a formal title as such, as there is no current “vein specialty” but does indicate that your doctor has specialist medical credentials and experience in treating venous disorders. Specialist training programs in Australia are generally considered rigorous and intensive and well respected globally.

Vascular Surgeons

These surgeons are Australian specialists in the field of arteries and veins. As their name implies they are experts in performing surgery and spend years of training in public hospitals before being able to operate independently. Many vascular surgeons will not only be capable of performing surgical stripping of your varicose veins but also familiar with the newer vein treatments such as endovenous laser ablation and foam sclerotherapy.  Being a vascular surgeon means that you’re part of the Royal Australian College of Surgery and also entitles one to use a Specialist title.

How Do I Check if My Doctor is a Medical Specialist?

The easiest way to check your doctors’ credentials is to search on the APHRA (Medical Board)’s Register of doctors.

Seek advice from a varicose vein specialist

The doctors at The Vein Institute specialise in varicose vein treatment. We offer patients a comprehensive treatment program to treat varicose veins, with non-surgical laser treatment techniques. The benefits of laser treatment to patients are;

  • Walk-in walk-out treatment
  • 98% success rate
  • Extremely effective
  • Can be performed at a clinic (no hospitalisation)
  • No general anaesthetic
  • Medicare rebates apply
  • No downtime or time away from work

To book a consultation and discuss our treatment program, call 1300 535 017 or fill our online form.