Varicose vein treatment

While varicose veins are not usually a serious medical condition, it’s a common misconception that they are purely a cosmetic issue.

The visual symptoms of varicose veins may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as heavy or restless legs, pain and itching. If the blood flow in your leg is reduced, it can also cause other conditions, such as eczema.

If you have varicose veins and you would like to talk to a specialist about the treatment options available, book an appointment with one of our vascular consultants.

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?

Varicose veins are large, bulging veins that appear in the legs, usually on the calves or thighs. They are raised from the skin and are often blue in colour. They can be as thin as string or much larger.

In addition to the visible veins, you may also experience swollen ankles and feet, heavy legs or restless legs, particularly towards the end of the day.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are usually caused by issues with the valves in the veins. These valves enable blood to flow towards the heart, but when they weaken, they can allow blood to pool in the veins, which causes them to swell.

There are additional risk factors for varicose veins, which include being overweight or obese, getting older, being female, being inactive and smoking. Varicose veins may even be hereditary. You can also be at an increased risk if you are pregnant, recovering from an injury or taking oral contraceptives.

Are varicose veins a medical issue?

Varicose veins can cause pain and discomfort, but don’t usually cause any serious medical issues. However, if the varicose veins are severe, there is a risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is when a blood clot forms in the deep veins. The symptoms of DVT include swelling, pain and redness in the leg.

It’s important to get these symptoms investigated, as blood clots can move to other areas of the body, which is then an emergency.

What are the treatment options for varicose veins?

The good news is that there are now many treatment options for patients with varicose veins. These include:

Endothermal ablation (radiofrequency)

The vast majority of our patients will have this form of treatment. It involves using either radiofrequency waves or lasers to heat the vein and cauterise it. Endothermal ablation is usually a day case procedure and can performed under local anaesthetic, although larger veins may require a general anaesthetic.

Sclerotherapy

This is a technique that involves injecting a special foam into the problem vein to make it fade. This technique is often used for thread veins (spider veins), which are much smaller than varicose veins and are found just below the surface of the skin. It usually takes a few weeks for the veins to reduce in appearance.

Ligation and stripping

This is the surgical method for removing varicose veins, during which the vein is tied and removed. It is usually offered to patients for whom the less invasive methods are unsuitable. This surgery requires a general anaesthetic and typically takes longer to recover from than endothermal ablation.

Your varicose vein removal surgery questions answered