What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins most commonly appear on the legs and can be painful and cause swelling in the ankles. Varicose veins are caused by the walls of the vein becoming stretched and losing their elasticity properties. This then results in the valves within your veins malfunctioning causing blood to flow backwards and collect within the vein. They often present themselves as bulging or lumpy veins that are often blue or purple in colour.

In severe cases, varicose veins can cause patients to experience cramping, aches, itching, pain, swelling or marking of the skin. Patients often comment on their varicose veins appearing worse after standing for long periods of time or extended activity like walking.

Varicose Vein Treatments London

What are the best treatments for Varicose Veins in London?

At our dedicated varicose vein clinic in London Harley Street we have a range of varicose vein removal treatments to help patients suffering from large or small varicose veins.

• EVLA or Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins uses laser heat to collapse the wall of the vein stopping the cause of the problem. EVLA is actually the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Gold Standard for the treatment of Varicose Veins and has a success rate after five years of 95.4%. Find out more about EVLA treatment.
• RFA also known as Radiofrequency Ablation is also credited by NICE as the recommended Varicose Vein treatment. Similar to EVLA, the treatment instead uses radiofrequency thermal heat energy which damages the vein walls causing the collagen within the vein wall to shrink. This causes a blockage within the vein and blood is re-routed to healthier veins deep in the leg. The treated vein will then seal and be naturally absorbed by the body over time. Find out more about RFA treatment.
• VenaSeal is a treatment that uses medical adhesive to secure and close varicose veins and is great for needle-phobic patients as it often only requires a single injection per vein. In the majority of VenaSeal cases you will also not be required to wear compression garments so you will be able to return to your daily activities relatively quickly. Find out more about VenaSeal treatment.
• Foam Sclerotherapy uses foam to coat the vein wall causing inflammation which pushes the blood out of the area and causes the vein to bond together. The treatment is ideal when used for large varicose veins. Find out more about Foam Sclerotherapy treatment.
• Phlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that removes varicose veins that are close to the surface with a small needle or scalpel. It provides instant relief from bulging veins as they are removed from the body entirely. Find out more about Phlebectomy treatment.

Related information: The Real Cost of Varicose Veins in the UK

See more Varicose Vein before and after results here.

What happens during varicose vein treatment?

Every patient’s varicose vein treatment will be slightly different as there is always more than one way of treating them. Our surgeons will be able to discuss with you in detail the different treatment options available and work out the best course of treatment for you.

When would I be able to see the results from varicose vein treatments?

For all of the varicose removal treatments, you should be able to see the results right after the procedure; however, some treatments will require you to wear compression stockings for a few days.
There will be some visible bruising but this will disappear within 1-2 weeks. You can expect to see your final results around 6 weeks after the treatment.

When will I be able to return to work after my procedure?

When it comes to the VenaSeal, EVLA, RFA or Foam Sclerotherapy treatments, many patients are able to return to work the day after their treatment.  If you have had Phlebectomy we recommend waiting 2-3 days before going back to work.

Varicose Vein Treatment Reviews

“I met with Mr Rittoo who immediately made me feel at ease. He explained the procedure and that it’s a fairly simple and quick – It’s walk-in, walk-out so minimal drama around it.  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, Varicose Vein Patient – Click here to read her patient story

“The Private Clinic of Harley Street certainly deserves high recommendation. The atmosphere is calm and well-organised and the patient coordinator, Cat was charming and extremely helpful. The consultation, surgery and post op. meetings were extremely efficient and the results are superb. The varicose vein has totally disappeared. Mr Rittoo is an outstanding vascular surgeon and is so knowledgeable and skilled. He kept me informed of the procedures needed, and his reassuring and confident manner put me totally at ease. Follow up appointments ensured that everything was fully rectified. Thank you.”

Patricia, Varicose Vein Patient

“I had my varicose veins treated by Dr Constantinos Kyriakides at the Private Clinic. He is very professional and he did an amazing job. I am extremely happy with the results. The experience was of a high standard, pain free and the staff were so supportive and friendly. I highly recommend the Private Clinic.”

Roxana, Varicose Vein Patient

“I am in my late 20s slim and fit but I have always been conscious of my varicose veins in my right leg. I decided to bite the bullet and get them removed. Mr Constantinos Kyriakides was my surgeon and I can’t thank him enough. The surgery was over 2 years ago now and my legs are as good as new. No scarring and no sign of the veins. Mr Kyriakides is really professional and patient and kind. Many thanks to him and team at The Private Clinic for all that they have done.”

LJ, Varicose Vein Patient

“I found The Private Clinic to be very friendly and professional. I attended The Private Clinic for Varicose Veins which was done by a combination of laser, Phlebotomy and injections.
I was put at ease by Mr Tahir Hussain the vascular surgeon and staff. I am very pleased with the results and from my experience would not hesitate to recommend The Private Clinic.”

Sheila, Varicose Vein Patient

Varicose Vein Removal Clinic London Harley Street

Our specialist vein clinic in London Harley Street is in an ideal location for travelling from surrounding areas such as Fitzrovia, Hyde Park, Chelsea, Bayswater, Marylebone, Knightsbridge, Green Park, St Johns Wood, Notting Hill, Soho, Regents Park, Primrose Hill, Victoria, Mayfair, Holland Park, Kensington, Fulham, Battersea, South Kensington, West End, Holland Park, Earls Court, West End and Belgravia. We also have patients coming from much further afield such as Richmond, Wimbledon, Chiswick, Putney. Patients travelling from overseas are also most welcome.

Expert Varicose Vein Surgeons London

All varicose vein consultations at our London Harley street clinic will be with a consultant vascular surgeon and include a free ultrasound scan. Our expert vascular surgeons include;

• Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, MD, FRCS(Gen). GMC 3275436
• Mr Dynesh Rittoo, MBChB, FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Gen Surg). GMC 3556456
• Mr Tahir Hussain, MBBS,MS, FRCS. GMC Number: 3242669

Thread Vein Removal in London

It is not just varicose veins that we treat at our Harley Street varicose vein clinic, we also treat thread veins. Thread veins are similar to varicose veins but are usually smaller and located closer to the surface of the skin. Thread veins are usually found on the thighs and ankles and start of red in colour but as they become bigger they may change to purple or green. Facial thread veins are also common and can occur appear the under the eyes, nose and cheeks.

Treatments for thread veins at The Private Clinic include:

• Microsclerotherapy / Liquid Sclerotherapy
• Cutera CoolGlide
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
• Regenlite

To find out more about Thread Veins treatments click here.

Why choose The Private Clinic of Harley Street?

• 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 £150, including a free ultrasound scan of your legs (usually priced between £350 and £450 at most clinics and private hospitals).
• Treatment takes one hour; you can go home shortly after being treated.
• Owing to our success, we have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends.
• We have carried out over 7,000 procedures in treating Veins.

Helpful Links

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

To find out more about varicose vein treatments or to book a varicose vein consultation at our London Harley Street Clinic please get in touch on 0333 920 2471 or use our online varicose vein contact form.