Australian and New Zealand Society of Phlebology
The amount of discomfort felt will vary with the individual. The needles used are extremely fine (similar to acupuncture needles) and many are hardly felt at all. The injected solution can sting slightly for short periods of time. If EVLT is used then minimal discomfort is experienced as it is performed under local anaesthetic.
This is a walk-in, walk-out procedure. Most treatments take about 30 minutes to perform. Following treatment your daily routine should not be disrupted, however heavy physical exercise or workloads should be avoided for about 2 weeks following each treatment.
Vein disease is progressive which if left untreated is likely to become worse with time. Increasing symptoms that can occur with untreated varicose veins include leg tiredness, heaviness, aching, throbbing, restlessness, tingling, itching numbness and swelling. More serious complications such as phlebitis, blood clots, dermatitis, and vein ulcers can develop if varicose veins are left untreated.
Varicose veins and spider veins are not functional, and the blood has already found alternative pathways via healthy veins. Varicose veins are not missed by the circulation, in fact, improves without them.
Treated correctly, the veins will not come back, as the body has absorbed them. New veins however, may appear with time, as the same causative hereditary factors still exist. These new veins are generally less pronounced and can be easily treated. In some patients maintenance treatment is required to keep new vessel growth to a minimum.
Becoming pregnant with existing varicose veins will only lead to the veins becoming significantly worse as the pregnancy develops. Phlebologists agree that treatment for varicose veins is best performed before or between pregnancies.