How to treat varicose veins?

Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged, swollen, twisted and more prominent in appearance. They are often blue or purple in colour but can also be colourless. Varicose veins occur when the valves within the veins that control blood flow become weak. Instead of moving the blood along, it instead sits within the vein which results in an enlarged appearance.

For most patients, varicose veins are just a cosmetic concern. But for some, they can cause pain and discomfort as well as feeling self-conscious about the appearance of their legs.

Typical physical varicose vein symptoms include:

• Swelling of the feet and/or ankles
• Legs that feel heavy and ache
• Burning or throbbing sensation in the legs
• Muscle cramps
• Dry or itchy skin

There are lots of options out there to help people relieve the pain of varicose veins. In most cases, a removal procedure would be required for full relief but non-surgical options can help temporarily reduce pain and avoid varicose veins from getting worse.

Non-Surgical Varicose Vein Treatments

Compression Stockings

Compression stockings can easily be found in many pharmacies and high street stores. They are often worn to prevent the occurrence of venous disorders such as ulcers and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). They can also help to boost circulation in the legs. Compression therapy is often recommended for people with troublesome varicose veins as it can help to reduce pain and aching in the legs.

The relief from compression stockings will unfortunately only be temporary. There can also be side effects from wearing them for too long. We recommend discussing usage with your GP, Surgeon or Pharmacist before purchasing.

Exercise

Exercise is often cited as the healing tool for most conditions. In the case of varicose veins, it really can help. Regular exercise encourages blood circulation in the legs which helps with the flow of blood through the veins. We recommend low impact exercises that focus on the calf muscles so walking, cycling, yoga and swimming are all good options to include in your routines.
Keeping moving throughout the day is also going to help keep the blood flowing through the veins. Options to improve on this include taking regular breaks from sitting down at a desk and walking up the stairs rather than taking the lift.

Keeping to an ideal weight is always going to help with varicose veins complications. Excess weight puts pressure on veins so reducing this will help to alleviate swelling and discomfort.

Diet

Diet is another common healing tool for many conditions but having a healthy diet full of the nutrients that your body needs is always going to help. If you are experiencing swelling, then reducing your intake of salty or sodium-rich foods which retain water is going to help to improve this. Instead, replace these with potassium rich foods which are known to reduce water retention. We recommend adding nuts, potatoes, lentils and leafy greens into your diet to help reduce swelling.

Massage

A gentle leg massage can work wonders to reduce any discomfort and pain. It is also great for encouraging circulation in the legs. We do advise that you avoid pressing directly onto the veins as this can damage fragile tissues.

Elevation of the legs

As if we need an excuse to put our legs up. If your legs are feeling uncomfortable then try resting with your legs elevated, ideally at the same height as the heart or above it. This will help to improve circulation. If you know you are going to be sat down for long periods, then elevating the legs is encouraged to help relieve pain.

Clothing choice

The type of clothing or shoes that you wear could be causing the symptoms of varicose veins to become worse. High heels and tight jeans should ideally be swapped for flat shoes and loose-fitting clothing. Tighter clothing can restrict blood flow causing additional discomfort.

Surgical Treatment

All of the suggestions above can really help to reduce the pain and discomfort of varicose veins on a temporary basis, but for more permanent relief; surgical varicose vein removal treatment is going to be the best option.

Here at The Private Clinic we do not use or recommend surgical vein stripping to treat varicose veins. This is on guidance from The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) who suggested that the technique should not be used unless it was exceptional circumstances. The range of minimally invasive options that we offer here at The Private Clinic far outperform vein stripping and there are so many better treatments available to treat varicose veins than older methods traditionally used in the NHS.

We offer patients 5 types of minimally invasive varicose vein treatments that are performed by world-class vascular surgeons in our clinics across the UK.

EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation)

EVLA is the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Gold Standard treatment for Varicose Veins. It is also one of the most popular treatment choices at our clinics. Treatment involves locating the damaged vein with ultrasound before using laser heat to collapse the wall of the vein and destroy the cause of the problem.

It is minimally invasive, performed in-clinic, has a quick recovery time. the success rate after five years for EVLA is 95.4%. Our surgeons have performed amongst the highest number of EVLA treatments in the UK, and have helped develop the procedure into the safe and highly recommended method it is today.

“I am really delighted when I look at my leg and no longer see the varicose vein there that made me feel so insecure. I can’t wait until next summer when the small incision marks that remain will hopefully be all healed and I can wear shorts without feeling like an awkward turtle.  I would 100% return to The Private Clinic for the same treatment again and would trust them to take good care of me for that second leg.” –
Jen – EVLA Patient – Click here to read Jen’s patient story

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

RFA uses radiofrequency thermal heat energy to treat varicose veins. Thermal heat energy damages the varicose vein walls, this causes the collagen within the vein wall to shrink. As a result, this prevents blood from flowing through the vein and thereby seals it off completely. The procedure is also recommended by NICE as a gold standard treatment for Varicose Veins.

VenaSeal

VenaSeal is a closure system treatment that uses medical grade Sapheon Glue. The glue is dispensed through the affected veins using a small catheter. It works by sealing and closing the veins, re-routing the blood into healthy veins located deeper within the leg. This treatment is very minimally invasive and is a great option for patients who have a needle phobia as there is a limited amount of injections required. VenaSeal also boasts a very quick recovery time with many patients not needing to wear compression garments for more than 24 hours post-procedure and most are able to return to work and exercise within a few days.

“I only had to take two days off work and I was back in the gym just four days after the procedure! I couldn’t be happier with results and I would absolutely recommend the treatment to anyone who is suffering from the condition.  I was so impressed with Dr Rittoo and his team; they made me feel completely at ease at every stage of the procedure”
Martin – VenaSeal Patient, Click here to read his patient story

Foam Sclerotherapy

Foam Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for larger veins. A foam solution is injected into the varicose veins which coats the vein wall. This causes the walls to become sticky and inflamed. Blood is pushed out of the vein and re-routed to healthier veins deep within the leg. The treated veins will then shrink down and disappear over time.

“Six months and three treatments later, my veins of leg are transformed. I am taking my new legs to Ibiza, where they can embrace miniskirts on a daily basis.” *
Jessica Lacey, Beauty Features Editor, Marie Claire -Sclerotherapy with Mr. Constantinous Kyriakides.

Phlebectomy / Microphlebectomy / Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Phlebectomy is usually used for large bulging veins that are close to the surface of the skin. Small incisions are made, and tiny hooks are inserted to remove the vein. The procedure does not involve stitches and the downtime is short. This procedure is often combined with additional varicose vein treatments such as EVLA to ensure that all the affected veins are treated.

Varicose Veins Patient Testimonials/Reviews

We have every faith in our procedures and only offer them because they are safe, tested and provide proven results but we know that hearing it from someone who has undergone the treatment is worth just as much to you as our expertise, so we’ve collected a few quotes from our patients.

“Six months and three treatments later, my veins…are transformed. I am taking my new legs to Ibiza, where they can embrace miniskirts on a daily basis.”
–Jessica Lacey, Beauty Features Editor, Marie Claire -Sclerotherapy with Mr. Constantinos Kyriakides.

“From the time I walked through the front door, the care received from all staff has been consistent and amazing. The surgery I had for my horrendous looking varicose vein was, yes a bit uncomfortable but so worth it when I got to see the results. I am now able to go swimming and, best of all, wear dresses and skirts again. Don’t put your life on hold – just do it!” –Tina – North Yorkshire

“I’m so pleased with the results and it is really life changing for me!”
–Nicole Hopkirk – Former Managing Editor, MSN Health

Why choose The Private Clinic for Varicose Vein treatment?

• Our aim is to always advise on 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.
• All varicose vein treatments are performed under local anaesthetic.
• Walk in, walk out procedures – no hospital stay required
• No downtime, treatment takes one hour.
• The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Gold Standard for treatment of Varicose Veins find the success rate after five years for EVLA is 95.4%.
• We tackle the actual cause of the problem, which is why we offer all patients a free ultrasound scan.
• We are competitively priced
• We focus on the underlying cause of your veins and with no scars
• Owing to our reputation, we have been featured on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, TLC’s My Naked Secret and featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends for 2019 and The Daily Mail.
• We have carried out over 7,000 procedures in treating Veins.
• Trust Pilot 5-star rating and 96% of patients would recommend us to friends and family

Helpful Links

• View our varicose vein before and after photos
• Read our extensive varicose veins FAQs
• Hear from previous varicose vein patients
• Browse our informative varicose vein blogs
• View our varicose vein videos
• We have clinics nationwide: London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Northampton.
• Download our varicose veins treatment brochure.

Expert Vascular Surgeons

• Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, MD, FRCS(Gen). GMC 3275436
• Mr Dynesh Rittoo, MBChB, FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Gen Surg). GMC 3556456
• Mr Duncan Parry, MBChB, MD, FRCS, GMC Number: 4037844
• 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

 To find out more about varicose vein treatments or book a consultation please call, 0333 920 2471 or use our Varicose Vein online contact form.