If you are thinking about treating your varicose veins, you may have heard that we cannot cure them, or that some treatments have a high recurrence rate. While this is somewhat true, there are a number of reasons why varicose veins can return, so we have pulled together a few tips that might help.
The good news? Most out-of-hospital varicose vein treatments, such as endovenous laser, have as little as 2% chance of the vein regrowing.
1. Not all of the Varicose Veins Were Treated
The first reason varicose veins may return after treatment is that the wrong veins (or not all of the diseased veins) were treated.
The most important factor in a successful varicose vein removal is the initial diagnosis. It’s important for the doctor to use the latest technology and conduct an in-depth ultrasound to identify the underlying cause. When you use an ultrasound, you often find that the primary varicose vein has become diseased because it is being fed by many smaller, hidden veins that have also become diseased.
At The Vein Institute, we rely on venous duplex ultrasound, the gold standard of medical imaging technology. This advanced diagnostic technology adds colour-coding to the standard Doppler ultrasound images. This enables the sonographer to see the blood flowing through the veins in real-time. Our years of experience have shown us that this technology provides a more accurate picture of diseased veins. We are able to see veins hidden deep beneath the surface of the skin. This enables us to treat all of the diseased veins, and therefore lessen the chances that they might regrow.
2. The Formation of NEW Varicose Veins
Another reason varicose veins may appear to recur after successful removal is because they’re actually new. This is the result of “de novo” vein disease progression. That is, veins that were healthy at the time of initial treatment, have subsequently become varicose.
Also, to help your body fight against the formation of new varicose veins, try the following:
- Compression stockings improve circulation, reduce fatigue, and ease swelling in the feet and ankles. Indeed, they aid in the recovery from varicose vein treatment and can also assist in supporting circulation to prevent new varicose veins.
- Stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle to support your vascular system. Particularly walking and running which are great for your veins because they work the calf and leg muscles, therefore improving blood flow back up to the heart.
3. Pelvis Veins are not Functioning Properly
Most varicose veins occur due to problems in your upper thigh or behind your knee. However, in 10% of cases, your pelvic veins might be the origin of your leg varicose veins. In addition, if you don’t treat these pelvic veins, then any leg treatment may not be effective.
This reiterates the importance of a correct initial diagnosis. Speak with your vein specialist about your pelvic veins in order to ensure they are treating the entire leg if needed.
Seek Expert Advice
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, complete the form below to receive a call back from one of The Vein Institute team.
