Varicose veins are caused by inefficient and failing one way valves in your veins, which leads to old vein blood pooling in your leg veins under higher pressure. This venous incompetence leads to poor venous drainage from your legs, which, combined with the higher pressure, leads to injury and inflammation of the veins, and reduced nutrients in the skin. The veins can also become very visible and palpable. These changes often result in swelling, discolouration, pain, cramp and restless legs, that’s why getting your varicose veins treated can have such a positive impact on your life.

With the help of duplex ultrasound scanning (which looks at the blood flow within the veins), we can accurately identify the affected veins that need to be treated. Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) is a trusted, non-surgical solution for varicose veins, eliminating the appearance and discomfort of affected veins and returning healthy blood flow to your legs.

With ultrasound guidance to provide exact precision, a special solution is injected into your affected veins, causing them to be damaged, collapse and disappear. Over the next three to six months, the veins will disappear as your body naturally absorbs the dissolved veins back into your body, improving your symptoms and leaving you feel more confident and comfortable.

The most common reason for the inefficient and failing one way valves in the veins is our genes. We inherit the tendency to leaking valves, which can sometimes be made worse by standing jobs, pregnancy or obesity. Very occasionally varicose veins can follow on from local trauma to the leg, or from deep vein thrombosis. The inflammation and injury in your veins continues to affect more superficial veins, which have thinner walls, and thus increase in size, further damaging the valves that regulate the direction of your blood flow, causing them to fail. This means that varicose veins continue to deteriorate, and never improve on their own.

With the absolute precision afforded by ultrasound guidance, the identified vein is accurately injected, while carefully observing the entire process on the ultrasound monitor. Once injected, the treated blood vessel will be damaged, collapse and be gradually and naturally absorbed back into the body.

• A number of injections with a very fine needlealong the length of the vein, guided by ultrasound, will achieve complete closure and provide you with the results you’re looking for.

• The procedure normally takes about 30-60, and does not require any anaesthetic.

• After treatment, you will need to wear compression stockings day and night for the first week, and then during the day for another three to six weeks, depending on how extensive your varicose veins were.

• We recommend a 30 to 60 minute walk every day for the first four weeks, and you should avoid strenuous exercise for two to three weeks after treatment.

• Though you might be wanting to show off your legs right away, avoid direct sun or sun bed exposure on areas showing bruising or pigmentation. We can help you identify these areas if they come up.

• We recommend you don’t engage in air travel for two to four weeks afterwards, to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

• Follow up treatments are usually scheduled for one week, three months, six months, and finally twelve months after the procedure.