Treatment · assessment first
Vein and laser treatments in Canberra
Canberra Vein & Laser Medicine treats varicose veins, spider veins and selected vascular and skin conditions from rooms at The Woden Suites in Phillip. Every treatment follows a doctor-led assessment that includes a duplex ultrasound on site, and every plan is given to you in writing with its cost before you decide. The four treatments below are day procedures under local anaesthetic; nothing is done on the day of your consultation.
What we treat
Varicose veins and chronic venous disease. Bulging leg veins, aching and heavy legs, ankle swelling, skin changes at the ankle and slow-healing sores are all expressions of the same underlying problem: vein valves that let blood flow the wrong way. See varicose veins for the condition, its symptoms and costs.
Spider veins. Fine red or purple surface veins on the legs. For many people they are cosmetic; for some they are the visible tip of an underlying vein problem. Assessment tells the difference.
Vascular and skin concerns treated with laser. Facial redness and visible facial vessels, blood spots, and benign skin lesions such as moles and keratoses, treated with TGA-registered laser devices after a medical consultation.
How we treat it
| Treatment | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) | Closing a refluxing trunk vein from the inside with a laser fibre under local anaesthetic. First-line for a failing trunk vein under international guidelines. |
| Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy | Sealing tortuous or smaller veins that a laser fibre cannot pass, and branch veins after EVLA, by injecting a prescribed sclerosant solution under ultrasound guidance. |
| Microsclerotherapy | Treating surface spider veins with a very fine needle, once any underlying reflux has been addressed. |
| Laser treatments | Vascular laser for facial redness and visible vessels; ablative laser for benign skin lesions. |
Each page explains who the treatment suits, what happens on the day, what it costs, and what can go wrong. Outcomes vary between people, every procedure carries some risk, and both are discussed with you in plain terms before you book.
Assessment comes first
The treatment you need is determined by what your veins are doing under the skin, not by what they look like. That is why every vein pathway at CVLM starts with a consultation and a duplex ultrasound performed by the doctor who would treat you. The scan maps which veins reflux and where it begins. From it you receive a written plan with the recommended treatment, the alternatives, and the exact fee. A cooling-off period of about a week follows before anything is done.
Laser skin treatments follow the same rule: a medical consultation of around 30 minutes, then a week to think it over.
Cost and Medicare
Fees are published on the fees page, dated, and quoted exactly in your written plan. A Medicare rebate applies where treatment is clinically indicated and eligibility criteria are met; your assessment determines this before any treatment is planned. Treatment for appearance alone does not attract a rebate. A pay-later option is available through Medipay.
Who you will see
Dr Alex Lapenga, Specialist General Practitioner with a fellowship of the College of Phlebology (UK), performs every consultation, ultrasound and procedure at Canberra Vein & Laser Medicine, The Woden Suites, Level 3, Francis Chambers, 40 Corinna Street, Phillip ACT 2606. Phone (02) 5119 3136. A GP referral is welcome but not required to book.
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Which treatment is right for varicose veins?
- There is no single answer; it depends on which vein is failing and how. For a refluxing trunk vein, international guidelines recommend endovenous thermal ablation such as EVLA. Tortuous branch veins are usually treated with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, and surface spider veins with microsclerotherapy. A duplex ultrasound at your assessment shows which applies to you.
- Where is your vein clinic in Canberra?
- Canberra Vein & Laser Medicine is a doctor-led vein clinic at The Woden Suites, Level 3, Francis Chambers, 40 Corinna Street, Phillip ACT 2606, serving Canberra and the surrounding region. Assessment, duplex ultrasound and treatment are all performed on site by Dr Alex Lapenga. Book online or call (02) 5119 3136.
- How long after consultation is treatment?
- About a week at the earliest. CVLM keeps a cooling-off period between your consultation and any treatment so you can read your written plan, ask questions and decide without pressure. Treatment is never performed on the day of your first visit.
- Do you treat veins under general anaesthetic?
- No. All treatments at CVLM are performed in our rooms under local anaesthetic, and you walk out afterwards. Vein stripping under general anaesthetic in hospital is an older approach; current guidelines favour minimally invasive endovenous treatment for people whose ultrasound findings suit it.