A woman in her late forties visited our Ashwood clinic after living with varicose veins since her teenage years. What began as a few visible veins in adolescence had grown, over three decades, into a problem that disrupted her sleep and affected how she felt about her legs.
Symptoms That Affected Daily Life
Her symptoms were characteristic of long-standing venous reflux. She reported painful night cramps that regularly interrupted her sleep, along with aching and heaviness after long periods of standing.
Elevating her legs brought relief, but only briefly. The discomfort always returned.
The bulging veins on the front and inner side of her left leg were not only a cosmetic concern. They had also raised concerns about long-term health risks, which is what finally prompted her to seek specialist assessment.
Clinical Examination and Diagnosis
A careful inspection at Melbourne Varicose Vein Clinic confirmed varicose veins along the front and inner aspect of her left leg.
During her first appointment, we performed a Duplex Ultrasound (DU) scan to identify the origin of these visible veins. The scan revealed reflux in one trunk vein: The left Great Saphenous Vein (GSV)
This single refluxing vein was feeding every varicosity visible on the surface of her leg. Treating the surface veins alone would have left the underlying cause untouched, and in time the veins would have returned.
Varicose Vein Treatment Procedure
Our strategy was straightforward. We used the highly successful Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) technique, under local anaesthesia, to address the underlying refluxing vein.
During the procedure, a fine laser fibre is guided into the affected vein under ultrasound. Laser energy then seals the vein wall from the inside, and blood reroutes naturally through healthier veins nearby. In experienced hands, EVLA delivers a success rate of up to 95%.
The entire process was minimally invasive, allowing the patient to walk in and walk out on the same day, with no hospital admission required.Recovery and Additional Treatment
Her EVLA treatment was completed across two sittings. After each one, we advised her to wear compression stockings during the day for one week.
Within a matter of days she had resumed her daily routine, reporting only minimal discomfort.
To treat the remaining varicose veins thoroughly, we then carried out ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS). In this procedure, a sclerosant solution is injected under ultrasound guidance to close veins that EVLA cannot reach.
The sclerotherapy targeted both the visible and the hidden branches of the refluxing GSV. Throughout her treatment, the patient experienced only mild, short-lived discomfort and required minimal downtime.
3-Month Follow-Up Results
Three months after completing treatment, follow-up scans and clinical images revealed an extraordinary transformation.
The bulging varicose veins had resolved completely. The night cramps that had interrupted her sleep for years were gone, along with the heaviness and aching she had carried since her teens.
Her legs did not simply look better. They felt healthier.
A Life Restored
This success story shows what modern varicose vein treatment can achieve when the underlying cause is correctly identified. EVLA closed the source of the pressure. UGS cleared the tributary branches feeding the surface veins. Together, they resolved the whole problem rather than only its most visible part.
Today she enjoys an active lifestyle without the limitations her varicose veins once imposed.
At Melbourne Varicose Vein Clinic, we take pride in being part of such transformative journeys, helping individuals rediscover their active, pain-free lives, one vein at a time.
Experiencing Similar Symptoms?
Dr Yazdani and the team at Melbourne Varicose Vein Clinic are here to guide you through your own path to recovery, with Medicare rebates available for eligible patients. Book an appointment online or call us on +61 (03) 9191 9195.
