Varicose veins · Northern Beaches and North Shore

Varicose vein treatment in Sydney, planned around your ultrasound

See Dr Ryan McConnell, an interventional radiologist, in Manly or St Leonards. Your 45 to 60 minute consultation includes a duplex ultrasound of your leg veins, and you leave with a written plan that sets out your options, risks and costs.

$330 consultation, 45 to 60 minutes$88.40 Medicare rebate with a GP referralUltrasound bulk billed with a referralMost patients choose sedation in a private hospitalOr local anaesthetic in our Manly roomsManly and St Leonards

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Manly St Leonards

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Prefer to talk? Call (02) 9023 9970.

Symptoms

Is it time to have your veins checked?

Varicose veins happen when valves inside the leg veins stop working well, so blood pools and the veins stretch. They’re common, and many people live with them for years. Early signs are often aching or itching before the veins bulge. It’s worth an assessment if you notice any of these.

Aching, heavy or tired legs, worse by the end of the day

Swollen ankles or feet

Throbbing, cramping or burning in the legs, often at night

Itchy skin over or around the veins

Darker, thicker or discoloured skin near the ankle

A sore or ulcer on the lower leg that's slow to heal

Results

Before and after treatment

Real patients of Dr McConnell, photographed with their consent in the same position and lighting, without editing. Results vary from person to person.

Before treatment: varicose veins on the right thigh and knee — **Woman in her 60s, right leg**6 months after radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy

After treatment: the same legs 6 months later — **Woman in her 60s, right leg**6 months after radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy

Before treatment: varicose veins on the lower leg — **Man in his 70s**5 months after radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy

After treatment: the same leg 5 months later — **Man in his 70s**5 months after radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy

Before treatment: bulging varicose veins on the thigh and knee — **Man in his 60s**3 months after radiofrequency ablation, phlebectomy and sclerotherapy

After treatment: the same leg 3 months later — **Man in his 60s**3 months after radiofrequency ablation, phlebectomy and sclerotherapy

Before treatment: varicose veins on the right thigh and calf — **Woman in her 40s**4 months after medical adhesive (VenaSeal) and sclerotherapy

After treatment: the same legs 4 months later — **Woman in her 40s**4 months after medical adhesive (VenaSeal) and sclerotherapy

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Your result depends on your veins, your health and the treatment used.

How it works

Three steps, no surprises

Consultation and ultrasound

Dr McConnell talks through your symptoms and history, then your leg veins are scanned with duplex ultrasound to find where the problem starts. Allow 45 to 60 minutes, including the scan.

Your written plan

You get the options that suit your veins, including doing nothing or using compression stockings, with the risks, recovery and costs of each.

Treatment and follow-up

If you go ahead, you're treated either in our rooms under local anaesthetic, or in a private hospital with an anaesthetist if you have private health cover. Follow-up visits and scans are booked for you.

Treatment options

Closed from the inside, through a needle

These treatments close the faulty vein from the inside, so blood reroutes through healthy veins. They’re done through a needle under ultrasound guidance rather than open surgery. Which one suits you depends on your ultrasound, so you don’t need to choose beforehand.

Endovenous laser ablation

A thin laser fibre is passed into the faulty vein through a needle, then heats and seals it closed.

Radiofrequency ablation

Similar to laser ablation, using radiofrequency energy to heat and seal the vein.

Medical adhesive (VenaSeal)

A medical glue closes the vein, without heat.

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy

A foam medicine is injected under ultrasound guidance to close smaller or branching veins.

Ambulatory phlebectomy

Bulging surface veins are removed through tiny nicks in the skin, under local anaesthetic.

What recovery usually looks like

Walking

You can walk straight after treatment, and walking every day helps your recovery.

Compression

You wear compression stockings for 2 weeks.

Back to work

Most people are back at work within 24 to 48 hours. It can take longer if your job is physically demanding.

Costs and Medicare

You'll know the cost before you decide

Your written plan lists the fee for each option, the Medicare or health fund rebate and your out-of-pocket cost.

Consultation

$330

Medicare rebate of $88.40 with a GP referral, so $241.60 out of pocket. Allow 45 to 60 minutes, including your ultrasound.

Ultrasound

Bulk billed

The duplex ultrasound of your leg veins is bulk billed if you have a Medicare card and a GP referral, so there's nothing to pay for the scan.

Treatment

Quoted

Your quote depends on your ultrasound and where you're treated. We'll tell you whether your veins meet the criteria for a Medicare rebate.

In our rooms

Treated as an outpatient under local anaesthetic. A Medicare rebate applies if your veins meet the clinical criteria.

In a private hospital

If you have private health cover, you're usually treated in hospital with an anaesthetist. Your health fund pays a rebate if you're eligible.

Your doctor

Dr Ryan McConnell

BMBS, FRANZCR · Interventional radiologist

Dr McConnell is an interventional radiologist. His specialty uses ultrasound and X-ray imaging to treat conditions through a needle instead of open surgery, and that’s how he treats varicose veins.

He is Head of Interventional Radiology at Northern Beaches Hospital and also works at the Mater Hospital. He trained at Royal North Shore Hospital, completing his radiology specialist training and fellowships in interventional radiology and interventional neuroradiology.

At Vein Doctors Sydney he sees you himself, from your first consultation and ultrasound through to treatment and follow-up.

More about Dr McConnell

Locations

Manly and St Leonards

Manly

Suite 503, 39 East Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095

Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 5 pm
Friday 7:30 am to 5 pm

Get directions

St Leonards

Suite 3, Level 2, North Shore Health Hub, 7 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065

Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 5 pm
Friday 7:30 am to 5 pm

Get directions

Both rooms are wheelchair and pram accessible.

Questions

Common questions about varicose veins

How much does varicose vein treatment cost?

The first consultation is $330, and Medicare pays a rebate of $88.40 if you have a GP referral. Your ultrasound is bulk billed if you have a Medicare card and a GP referral. The cost of treatment depends on what your ultrasound shows, which treatment suits you and whether you’re treated in our rooms or in hospital. Your written plan lists the fee, the rebate and your out-of-pocket cost for each option before you decide.

Who treats varicose veins: an interventional radiologist or a vascular surgeon?

Both. Varicose veins are treated by interventional radiologists and by vascular surgeons, and both perform the modern treatments used today, such as endovenous laser and radiofrequency ablation, medical glue (VenaSeal) and foam sclerotherapy. These are endovascular treatments, meaning they’re done from inside the vein through a needle and guided by imaging rather than open surgery.

Interventional radiologists are specialists in imaging and image-guided procedures, so ultrasound is central to how they assess and treat veins. Dr McConnell completed fellowship training with a heavy endovascular focus and performs around 1,500 endovascular procedures each year.

Does Medicare cover varicose vein treatment?

If your ultrasound shows your veins meet Medicare’s clinical criteria, Medicare pays a rebate for treatment in our rooms. If you have private health cover and are treated in a private hospital, your health fund pays a rebate if you’re eligible. Treatment for purely cosmetic reasons isn’t covered. We’ll confirm what applies to you at your consultation.

Does treatment hurt, and how long is recovery?

In our rooms, treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so most people feel some pressure or stinging rather than pain. If you’re treated in a private hospital, an anaesthetist looks after your comfort.

You can walk straight after treatment. You wear compression stockings for 2 weeks, and most people are back at work within 24 to 48 hours, though it can take longer if your job is physically demanding.

Can varicose veins come back after treatment?

New varicose veins can form over time, because the tendency often runs in families. Treating the source vein found on ultrasound lowers the chance, and follow-up scans check that the treated vein stays closed.

Are varicose veins dangerous?

Usually not, but untreated venous disease can lead to skin changes, ulcers, bleeding or clots in some people. If your leg is suddenly painful, hot and swollen, see a doctor the same day.

Can I stop varicose veins getting worse?

You can’t change the main causes, such as family history, age and pregnancy. Staying active, keeping to a healthy weight, raising your legs when you rest and wearing compression stockings can ease symptoms. If your veins are getting worse or causing symptoms, an ultrasound shows whether treatment would help.

Do I need a GP referral?

You can book before you have one, but please get a referral from your GP before your appointment. It means Dr McConnell can keep your GP updated about your care. With a referral and a Medicare card, you can also claim the $88.40 rebate on your consultation, and your ultrasound is bulk billed.

Find out what's causing your symptoms

Book a consultation and ultrasound in Manly or St Leonards.