Do I need to treat my varicose veins?

VARICOSE VEINS

Varicose veins usually develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working properly. They appear as lumpy or bulging veins usually on the legs and they may be dark purple or blue in colour. Varicose veins affect many people in the UK but many people choose to ignore their veins rather than seeking treatment. Varicose veins are not only an unsightly nuisance but they are also potential health hazards putting you at risk of blood clots, ulcers and swelling as well as venous disease.

What are the Consequences of untreated Varicose Veins?

Many patients who don’t treat their varicose veins will just experience continued symptoms of pain, fatigue and swelling of the legs or ankles. But some patients can go on to develop advanced medical problems including hyperpigmentation, lipodermatosclerosis, venous leg ulcers, spontaneous bleeding, superficial thrombophlebitis, and a potentially life-threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis
While not all varicose veins are dangerous, they should be evaluated and monitored by a vein specialist to ensure that treatment is advised when symptoms for any of the below issues are apparent.

Skin Discolouration / Pigmentation

Varicose veins that have had time to progress untreated can lead to pigmentation appearing as brownish or blue skin discolouration.

Blood Clots / Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Varicose veins can cause blood in the veins to pool leading to stagnant blood flow which then clots in the insufficient vein. These blood clots can then travel to other parts of the body blocking blood flow which can then result in serious medical issues. Superficial thrombophlebitis is also caused by blood clots within the veins which can result in redness with painful hard lumps sitting beneath the skin.

Ulcers

Varicose veins can cause venous ulcers or open sores which can be painful, cause your leg to swell and are often difficult to heal. Open sores on the legs can result in infection so we recommend getting both these and your varicose veins treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of this.

Spontaneous Bleeding

Untreated varicose veins have an increased risk of sudden bleeding. This is because over time they can become bigger and there is a high amount of pressure which can cause the veins to spontaneously burst and bleed heavily. The high pressure involved in varicose veins can cause the bleed to be very dramatic and in some cases a stitch or other medical treatment to ensure that the patient does not continue to lose what could be a large amount of blood. It does not take much to cause spontaneous bleeding, simply brushing against the edge of a piece of furniture or even scrubbing your skin too hard in the bath or shower can cause a varicose vein to burst.

Lipodermatosclerosis

This skin condition occurs most commonly on the lower leg affecting people who have a venous insufficiency. Lipodermatosclerosis is when there is an inflammation in the layer of fatty tissue beneath the skin. It can cause your skin to become red, painful and swollen with hardening of the skin.

Deep Vein Thrombosis / Pulmonary Embolism

If you have varicose veins then you are unfortunately at a greater risk of developing DVT (deep vein thrombosis). DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is when a blood clot forms in a deep leg vein, it can cause pain and swelling and can lead to more severe conditions such as a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a section of the blood clot breaks off and works its way into the bloodstream and blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs. Together, DVT and pulmonary embolism are known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Varicose Vein Treatment at The Private Clinic

When you have a consultation for Varicose Veins at The Private Clinic, our expert consultant vascular surgeons will perform a free ultrasound scan of your legs to look for underlying issues like the ones mentioned above.

Expert Vascular Surgeons

Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, MD, FRCS (Gen), FRCS (Gen Surg). GMC Number: 3275436
Mr Dynesh Rittoo, MBChB, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Gen Surg). GMC Number: 3556456
Mr Rajiv Pathak, MBBS, MS, FRCS (Gen), FRCS. GMC Number: 4585309
Mr Tahir Hussain, MBBS, FRCS (Gen, Surg.), MS Masters in Surgery. GMC Number: 3242669

Our specialised team at our Varicose Vein clinics are here to reduce the risks and side effects from having varicose veins by offering a range of varicose vein treatments such as Phlebectomy, Foam Sclerotherapy, VenaSeal and the Gold Standard treatment for varicose veins EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation).

Why choose The Private Varicose Vein Clinic?

The least invasive method for varicose veins and thread veins removal treatment for your legs, body and face.
Our Consultant vascular surgeons are pioneers in EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) and have treated thousands of patients.
No lengthy downtime or recovery required.
The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Gold Standard for treatment of Varicose Veins findings shows that the success rate after five years for EVLA is 95.4%.
A consultation with one of our Consultant Vascular Surgeons costs £150, including a free ultrasound scan of your legs (usually priced between £350 and £450 at most clinics and private hospitals).
We work with our partnered finance provider ‘Chrysalis Finance’ to offer 0% finance* to our patients. Get in touch to find out more.
We focus on the underlying cause of your veins and you will only see a Consultant Vascular surgeon for varicose veins.
We have treated thousands of patients who have regained their confidence whilst avoiding health issues.
Treatment takes one hour; you can go home shortly after being treated.
We have carried out over 7,000 procedures in treating Veins.

Helpful Links

View our varicose vein before and after result photos.
Read our extensive varicose vein FAQs.
Hear from previous patients in our varicose vein patient stories.
Find out more in our varicose vein blogs.
Download our varicose veins treatment brochure.

Get in touch

If you are suffering from varicose veins and would like to speak to someone about the treatments we have available please call our Varicose vein clinic number 0333 920 2471 or click here to make an appointment at one of our Varicose Vein clinics located in: