Vein or Venous Surgery is part of both General and Vascular Surgery. It is a growing area of surgical and endovenous intervention worldwide with exponential research development and large Centres growing internationally. Lymphatic disease, along with vascular malformations is another area that has never received much attention in medicine, but is becoming more recognised and more understood, and much more treatable!

OptiVein brings the first such Centre of Excellence to South Africa.

Dr Laura Redman is a both a General Surgeon and a Specialist Vascular Surgeon who has dedicated her practice to Veins and Lymphatics. She has travelled abroad multiple times to ensure we are up to date with the latest intervention, has a large International Network and aims to ensure our centre is equal to leading centres worldwide.

She spent time in multiple centres worldwide to train with experts in superficial vein disease, deep venous disease, vascular malformations, lymphoedema, lipoedema, duplex doppler ultrasound , intravascular ultrasound and more, visiting different world experts and their clinics which included vascular malformations, lymphoedema and debulking, intravascular ultrasound, aesthetic veins, deep vein valve repair and stenting.

She then opened one of the first Vein Clinic’s in South Africa, which, over the years has grown into something more - The OptiVein Centre.

Dr Redman is president of the South African Lymphatic and Venous Society (SALVS) which aims to enhance the knowledge of health care practitioners, to promote awareness of venous & lymphatic disorders within the public and healthcare sector and to stimulate research. This is all in keeping with her vision for her own practice at OptiVein Centre.

Dr Redman has built up a dedicated clinical team to diagnose and manage Vein and Lymphatic Disorders. Khaya, a vascular technologist, has been with the clinic since its inception and is skilled in vascular ultrasound and cardiovascular physiology. Jenna-Lee is an AHPCSA Therapeutic massage therapist and LAOSA Certified lymphoedema therapist, as well and she helps Dr Laura Redman run the OptiVein Clinic as well as seeing her own patients. Dr Gareth Tjasink, a plastic surgeon has joined the team to manage the plastic portion of pathology and works closely with Dr Redman on combined cases.

OptiVein Centre, has kept up to date with the newest interventions, and uses cutting edge technology in terms of imaging and intervention.

OptiVein is located within Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital which was designed for cardiovascular surgery with its state of the art hybrid theatre.

The aim of the OptiVein Centre is to improve the quality of life and outcomes of patients. One of the goals is to ensure patients are given time and are heard and their outcome is aligned to the problem they came to seek help with. Patients first encounter our administration team, who are just as dedicated as the clinical team.

The foundation of 2 decades of medical & surgical experience in combination with ongoing research allowed the culmination of the OptiVein mindset with a focus on cardiovascular and disease prevention, wellness through nutrition and improving quality of life.

Dr Redman has a passion for research on cardiovascular disease and preventative health aiming to improve the health of patients by lifestyle changes to decrease risk factors for cardiovascular disease, reduce medications and reduce heart attacks. Her research ranges from blood vessel plaque development, to lymphatics to nutrition. From this she developed a Healthy Heart Assessment combining all non-invasive technologies to assess one’s risk of future heart attack or stroke and where prevention can be employed.

Her practice grew a like-minded, dedicated team forming and refining protocols together, and grew in holistic management of patients for which the team all has a great passion and love for. Prevention is key. Wellness is prevention. However, we often have to work backwards to get there!

The underlying principle of OptiVein is that every single cell of your body is cared for. Rather than separating organs or joints or systems, we notice the connection between every cell in your body, we notice the influence of body, mind and soul on the effects of your cell and that every single cell of your body carries your unique DNA…your code of life.

Thus we want to Optimise every one of these cells from the most microscopic level, to your organ systems inside to your external appearance…to holistically get the best version of you.

Thus this unique combination of westernised up to date technology and cutting edge surgical interventions with holistic healing and wellness is what makes up OptiVein.