Phlebologist, FACP, MBBS (Qld), JD Barrister at Law (Qld), MBA, GAICD, Medical Director Vein Doctors Group, CEO Miami Private Hospital
Dr Lekich is the Medical Director of Vein Doctors Group. He changed career paths from pursuing an eye career to the treatment of venous disease following the serious complication of a blood clot his then-wife had with varicose veins during pregnancy. As well as offering a comprehensive modern non-surgical treatment for varicose veins, Dr Lekich established a pregnancy vein service to support women with varicose veins during pregnancy.
Further, he explored the specialised Open Ended Vasectomy to offer this service to the partners of his female patients who have to stop the oral contraceptive pill due to their varicose veins.After completing his medical degree in 1991 from the University of Queensland, Dr Lekich worked at the Royal Brisbane Hospital as a resident for three years. As a senior medical officer, he completed numerous country hospital rotations as a relieving Medical Superintendent. At Royal Brisbane Hospital his focus was on surgical/procedural-based specialisations.
Further, he has a strong background in Emergency Medicine and eyes namely the retina.Dr Lekich’s four (4) year fellowship training with the peak body for non-surgical management of venous disorder in Australia was with the Australasian College of Phlebology. This meant that Dr. Lekich had achieved the highest level of structured advanced training for this modern non-surgical treatment of venous disorders in Australia.
To enable Dr Lekich to deliver the best possible ultrasound assisted treatment of varicose veins, he has undergone formal training by way of Certificate of Ultrasound in Phlebology (C.U.P): Introductory Course and Certificate of Ultrasound in Phlebology (C.U.P): Advanced Course.Dr Lekich’s supervisor during his advanced training was A/Prof Kurosh Parsi who is the Australasian College of Phlebology President, Vice President of the International Union of Phlebology and a PhD Researcher.
Other mentors of note are Australasian College of Phlebology founding members Dr Thibault, the father of Phlebology in Australia (NSW), Dr Loizou (Victoria) and Dr Jenkins (NSW).
Dr Lekich regularly attends conferences and on-going education seminars. He regularly speaks at scientific meetings and conferences and is involved in delivering workshops training doctors. Further Dr. Lekich is a preceptor, mentor and supervisor for phlebology trainees.
Apart from the study of medicine, whilst working full time, Dr Lekich has furthered his university education completing a postgraduate law degree (Juris Doctor) from Bond University in 2004 inspired by the medical indemnity crisis. He then completed the Bar Practice Course at the Queensland University of Technology in 2005 and was admitted as a Barrister in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2005.
He completed his Masters of Business Administration also at Bond University and has been an Assistant Professor in the Bond University Medical School, Gold Coast Australia.Additional to Dr. Lekich’s venous work, he was trained by the pioneer of the specialised form of vasectomy Dr. Bruce Errey of the 30,041 Open Ended Vasectomy fame. This approach to vasectomy is very specialised and performed by a small percentage of doctors. This form of vasectomy is designed to minimise post vasectomy congestion pain and is more readily reversible should circumstances change.
This Open Ended Vasectomy service complements the care Dr. Lekich provides his female vein patients so that they can stop the oral contraceptive pill.Further Dr Lekich has been trained to perform microsurgery personally at the microscope over three years by the Father of Microsurgery, Professor Earl Owen. Professor Owen performed the world’s first hand and double hands transplant and the collaborator of the first face transplant. This microsurgical training enables Dr Lekich to successfully reverse vasectomies.Dr Lekich is a devoted father of three children and he enjoys influencing them to the best young adults they can be. His other languages include fluent Croatian and Serbian.
The following are Dr Chris Lekich’s professional Society Memberships:
- Preceptor Graduate School of Medicine-Clinical and Scientific Teaching -1997
- Australian Medical Association -National Membership-Current
- Australian Medical Association -Queensland Branch Membership- Current
- Gold Coast Medical Association- Current
- Clinical Ophthalmic Workshop Mentor Programme – Princess Alexandra Hospital July 2004
- Admitted Supreme Court Queensland as Legal Practitioner, March 2005.
- Member Queensland Bar Association 2005 – Current
- Assistant Professor Medical School Bond University 2005-2010
- AHPRA Medical Board of Australia Registration- Current
- Member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine
- Member of the Australasian College of Phlebology (ACP)-Current
- Preceptor for Australasian College of Phlebology Basic and Advanced Training-Current
- Member of the Medico legal Society of Queensland-Current
- Board Member of the Australasian College of Phlebology -Current
- ACP Chair of the Australian Medical Council Specialist Accreditation Committee-Current
- ACP Member of the Continuing Professional Development Committee -Current
- ACP Member of the Ethics and Standards Committee-Current
- CEO Miami Private Hospital
- Clinical Director of Miami Private Hospital Medical Advisory Committee
- Medical Director of Coastal Medical Services
Is there a specific brand of support stockings that work best with varicose veins?
All of the reputable brands (Jobst, Venosan, Medi etc.) all work well. What is more important than brand is the amount of compression (classified by Class) and whether the stocking is graduated. The weakest Class is Class 1 and these are commonly worn for protection against DVT on plane flights and for relief of aching varicose veins. You will get much better protection against DVT and relief from aching if you use a Class 2 stocking which is also the type commonly worn after sclerotherapy or laser treatment. These higher level stockings are unfortunately a bit more challenging to get on and off.
Thanks for answering my question about stockings. I am also wondering about the everyday type of stocking – for example Sheer Relief are a department style brand of stocking for about $7-$8 pair. Are these worthwhile wearing at all or a waste of time?
Megan it is hard to get detailed information about Sheer Relief but their advertising says they are graduated which is good. The degree of compression is hard to determine as they use a scale that is not a medical one but I suspect they are a Class 1 stocking (or maybe less). No stocking has been shown to halt the progression of vein disease (even the medical ones) but if these stocking give you some relief from aching (and at their cost it’s a cheap experiment) then they have some use. Good luck!
Varicose veins seem to be a common thing among women in my family. I don’t have varicose veins myself (I am only 18) but I am wondering if wearing these support stockings or elastic socks would help prevent the development of varicose veins?
There is no scientific study yet done that proves that the wearing of stockings or elastic socks is helpful in preventing varicose veins.
I am on 25 and have had varicose veins and the related aching for a few years now. In the past they were on the inside of my upper calf, but I am noticing the veins on my thigh are becoming more noticeable and itchy (it looks like blue stains on my thighs).
Would full length medical stockings help slow down the progression of the bulging veins on my thighs?
There is no study that I am aware of that demonstrates the wearing of stockings will slow down the progression of your type of leg veins. Intuitively I would think there would be some benefit for your situation but suspect if there is it will be very small
when compared to genetic factors.