How do you get rid of swollen legs from varicose veins?

Leg swelling, also known as oedema is often caused by a build-up of fluid in the affected area. There are a number of reasons why you may be experiencing swollen legs which include; injury, circulatory system issues, problems with the lymphatic system or venous insufficiency such as varicose veins.

Can varicose veins cause legs to swell?

Varicose veins are a common cause of swollen legs due to the added pressure within the veins.

In healthy veins, there is a one-way valve that allows blood within the leg veins to keep moving up towards the heart. When the valves become damaged or stop working properly, it can cause blood to build up within the veins causing enlarged varicose veins.

Whilst this is happening, pressure is also building within the veins and fluid from the blood can go on to leak into the surrounding tissues which is what causes the leg swelling associated with varicose veins.

How do you get rid of swollen legs from varicose veins?

If you have varicose veins, you will be recommended to wear compression stockings which can help to reduce swelling as they can help gently push blood flow up the leg. Whilst the stockings can help with swelling and other symptoms of varicose veins such as eczema and aching, they are not a cure for varicose veins and should not be worn permanently as a way of treating your varicose veins.

Interventional Varicose vein treatments such as Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), VenaSeal, Foam Sclerotherapy or Phlebectomy are the best procedures to treat varicose veins to ensure long-lasting relief from the associated symptoms.

Varicose Vein Treatments to reduce swelling

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

This treatment is the most commonly performed treatment to directly fix the issue of varicose veins as it can be used to treat veins that are deep inside the leg. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends EVLA as the Gold Standard treatment for varicose veins removal and it has a success rate of 95%, as proven in 5 major clinical studies.

The treatment uses ultrasound imagery to locate damaged veins and faulty vein valves. Laser heat energy is then used in short pulses to collapse the vein walls and close them off. The blood flow redirects itself through to healthier veins. Find out more here.

VenaSeal

VenaSeal is a new and innovative way to treat varicose veins. This treatment option is ideal for patients who are needle-phobic as requires fewer injections compared to other treatments. It also has a short recovery period and patients are not required to wear compression stockings during their recovery.

The treatment uses specialised medical-grade glue which is then injected into the varicose vein. Once the substance is within the vein it quickly reacts to seal off the channel, without migrating into other areas. The treated vein will then shrink and break down gradually over time with the body then disposing of it through natural processes. The blood flow from the treated vein is redirected to healthier veins deeper within the leg. Find out more here.

“I’ve carried out this procedure in hundreds of patients, and I even had it done myself in my lunch break, after developing varicose vein symptoms at the age of 52. I had some clearly visible veins on my body, but after the quick treatment, they just shrank away and after a few months, the residual pain had completely gone.” – Mr Tahir Hussain

Foam Sclerotherapy

Foam Sclerotherapy is a great minimally invasive procedure to treat mild varicose veins. The UK’s National Institute of Healthcare and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended this treatment as one of their gold-standard treatments for Varicose Veins. It is often combined with other varicose vein treatments such as EVLA to give the best results.

The treatment involves injecting the veins with a foam sclerosing agent which works to coat the vein wall with a sticky substance. This causes the walls of the vein to become inflamed and the blood within the vein to leave and re-route to healthier veins in the leg. Over time, the treated vein will close up completely before the body then removes the dead vein through natural processes. Find out more.

Phlebectomy

A phlebectomy is a highly successful procedure for large, bulging varicose veins that are close to the surface of the skin. It is often used in combination with other treatments to target the larger veins whilst EVLA for example works to specifically fix the incorrect ‘venous reflux’ blood flow. The treatment yields impressive success rates and 95% of phlebectomy patients experience significant relief from pain and symptoms.

The microsurgery procedure can still be performed in-clinic under local anaesthetic with no need to travel to a hospital. The procedure involves making very small micro-puncture incisions that allow the damaged varicose vein to be physically removed from the leg using a very fine phlebectomy hook. The incisions are so small that they do not require stitches as they are able to heal quickly by themselves. Find out more here.

Why choose The Private Clinic for Varicose Vein Removal?

At the Private Clinic, we have over 40 years of experience providing the best and latest vein removal treatments and have treated over 7,000 patients concerned about their veins. We work with highly qualified consultant vascular surgeons who have extensive experience in their field.
In our Harley Street clinic in London, we perform all the varicose vein removal treatments listed. At The Private Clinic we provide:

• We are able to offer some of the least invasive methods for varicose veins and thread veins for your legs, body, and face.
• No lengthy downtime or recovery required.
• Our Consultant vascular surgeons are pioneers in EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) and have treated thousands of patients.
• We focus on the underlying cause of your veins, and you will only see a Consultant Vascular surgeon for varicose veins.
• 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 £200, including a free ultrasound scan of your legs (usually priced between £350 and £450 at most clinics and private hospitals).
• Treatment takes on average 30-60 minutes; you can go home shortly after being treated.
• We have been featured in several TV shows and press including Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, TLC’s My Naked Secret and have been recently featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends for 2019.
• We have been able to restore the confidence in many of our patients by avoiding health issues and achieving remarkable results.
• We are able to offer finance solutions with manageable payments to suit a variety of budgets.

Helpful links

• View our extensive varicose vein FAQs
• See our previous varicose vein patient stories
• View varicose vein before and after photo results
• View our varicose veins blogs for more information
• Download our varicose vein treatment brochure

Consultant Vascular Surgeons at The Private Clinic

• Mr Dynesh Rittoo, MBChB, FRCS(Eng), FRCS (Gen Surg). GMC 3556456
• Professor Rajiv Kumar Vohra, MBBS. GMC Number: 3158700
• Mr Tahir Hussain, MBBS, MS, FRCS. GMC Number: 3242669
• Mr Rajiv Pathak, MBBS, MS, FRCS, FRCS(Gen). GMC Number: 4585309
• Mr Ferdinand Serracino-Inglott, MD, FRCSI, FRCS(Gen), DIC MSc. GMC Number: 5206200
• Mr Duncan Parry, MBChB, MD, FRCS, PG Cert Medical Ultrasound, PG Cert Medical Research, GMC Number: 4037844
• Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, MD, FRCS(Gen). GMC 3275436

The Private Clinic offers varicose vein removal consultations at our clinics in London, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Manchester, Northampton and Leeds.

To find out more about varicose vein treatments or to book an veins appointment, please call 0333 920 2471 or use our online varicose vein contact form.