Venous Leg Ulcer Treatment in Korea

What is a venous leg ulcer?

A venous leg ulcer is a break in the skin of the lower leg that does not heal in the normal two to three weeks. It forms because blood is not draining properly out of the leg. Valves inside the veins are supposed to keep blood moving upward toward the heart. When they fail, blood falls back down and pools. This is called venous reflux , and the result is constant high pressure in the veins around the ankle.

Over months and years, that pressure pushes fluid and blood components into the surrounding tissue. The skin becomes swollen, darkened, inflamed and fragile. Eventually a small scratch or knock, or sometimes nothing at all, opens a wound that the damaged skin cannot repair.

How do varicose veins lead to an ulcer?

Ulcers are the end point of chronic venous insufficiency . LEDAS describes varicose vein disease as progressive, moving roughly through these stages (see varicose vein stages ):

1. Spider veins (telangiectasia)
2. Varicose veins
3. Swelling (edema)
4. Skin discoloration
5. Severe discoloration and a healed ulcer
6. An active, progressive ulcer

Not everyone passes through every stage, and progression is often slow. But varicose veins do not go away by themselves, and each step makes treatment more involved. Many people with ulcers had bulging veins or swollen ankles for years before the skin broke down.

What does a venous ulcer look like?

• A shallow wound with irregular edges, usually above the inner ankle
• A red or yellowish base, often with fluid leaking from it
• Surrounding skin that is brown, hardened, shiny or eczema-like and itchy
• Swelling of the ankle and lower leg
• Aching that improves when the leg is raised

Not every leg wound is venous. Ulcers on the foot or toes, very painful wounds, or wounds in people with diabetes or poor pulses may have an arterial cause. Using compression on an arterial ulcer can be harmful, which is why proper assessment comes first. Seek urgent care if the leg becomes hot, red and spreading, you develop a fever, or the wound smells and worsens quickly; these can be signs of infection.

How are venous leg ulcers treated?

1. Care for the wound

Regular cleaning, suitable dressings and management of the skin around the wound. This is often done with a local doctor or wound nurse, especially for patients who live abroad.

2. Compression

Graduated compression, from bandages or medical compression stockings , counteracts the high vein pressure and reduces swelling. It is an important support, but on its own it does not fix the leaking veins.

3. Treat the source of the reflux

This is the step that aims to stop the ulcer coming back. Once necrosis or ulceration has developed, open surgery becomes more difficult, so LEDAS recommends non-surgical treatment first: ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy . A sclerosing foam is injected under ultrasound into the refluxing veins, including those running beneath the damaged skin, without cutting through it. Where a large saphenous vein is the main source and the skin allows, EVLT may be added. Everything is done under local anesthesia, with no incision and same-day discharge.

How does LEDAS plan ulcer treatment?

Your first visit includes a full duplex ultrasound on Philips EPIQ Elite equipment. Dr. Kim Byoung Joon maps which veins are refluxing, how far the reflux extends, and whether perforator veins near the wound are involved. The plan may involve several injection sessions, each followed by an ultrasound re-check. After healing, follow-up every one to two years, or on each visit to Korea for overseas patients, helps catch new reflux early under the relapse prevention program .

The first visit costs 180,000 KRW, including consultation and leg ultrasound. Treatment costs depend on the stage and extent of disease, so an exact quote is given after the ultrasound.

The three parts of venous ulcer care

Venous leg ulcers – frequently asked questions