What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that appear just beneath the skin surface, most commonly in the legs. They develop when the one-way valves inside the leg veins become weakened or damaged, allowing blood to pool and the vein walls to stretch and bulge. While often considered a cosmetic concern, varicose veins can cause significant symptoms and, if left untreated, can progress to chronic venous insufficiency, skin changes, and venous ulcers.
Common symptoms include aching, heaviness, or throbbing in the legs especially after prolonged standing as well as swelling around the ankles, itching over the veins, skin discolouration, and in advanced cases, leg ulcers. Risk factors include prolonged standing or sitting, pregnancy, family history, obesity, and advancing age.
When Should You Seek Treatment?
- Significant leg aching, heaviness, or fatigue that affects daily activities
- Swelling of the ankle or lower leg that worsens through the day
- Skin changes over the inner ankle (lipodermatosclerosis, pigmentation)
- Healed or active venous leg ulcers
- Superficial thrombophlebitis (painful clot in a varicose vein)
- Cosmetic concern causing significant distress
What to Expect on Procedure Day?
- A pre-procedure duplex ultrasound maps the vein anatomy and identifies incompetent valves
- Local anaesthetic tumescent solution is infiltrated around the target vein under ultrasound guidance
- The laser fibre or RFA catheter is advanced along the vein and energy delivered as it is withdrawn
- The entire procedure takes 45–75 minutes per leg
- You walk out of the clinic within 30 minutes of the procedure
- Compression stockings are worn for 1–2 weeks; normal activities resume the same day
