What is varicose veins surgery?

Varicose vein surgery treats varicose veins for medical or cosmetic reasons. Ramsay offers a range of treatment options to relieve pain or complications and, to improve the appearance of these enlarged blood vessels.

Varicose vein surgery involves closing off your problem varicose vein so that your blood re-routes through a healthier vein.

Your varicose vein treatment choice will depend on the type of varicose veins you have, why you are seeking treatment, your personal preferences and, your general health.

We will discuss with you the option that is best for you at your initial appointment with your consultant.

Varicose veins are very common. They are enlarged, sometimes lumpy and twisted veins, usually in your legs. They can be dark purple or blue and often unsightly.

Varicose veins are caused by the one-way valves in your veins, that help the upward flow of blood back to your heart, stopping working properly. Your blood then flows the wrong way and your veins swell and form varicose veins.

They can often run in families and women are more likely to develop them. Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy and, menopause and when using birth control pills and HRT, ageing, long periods of standing, obesity, and leg injuries are related to the onset of varicose veins.

Your varicose vein surgery will depend on the type of surgery you choose. Varicose vein treatment options include:

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), or Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is an outpatient procedure with minimal downtime that uses laser heat to quickly remove varicose veins.

At Ramsay, we regularly perform endovenous laser therapy to safely and effectively remove unsightly or painful varicose veins. This means that our vascular surgeons are highly experienced in EVLA, as well as other vein treatments.

Find out more about the treatment, what to expect and recovery process here.

NVUS Closure procedure involves heating and closing the vein from within, using radiofrequency energy. This is usually performed whilst you are awake under local anaesthetic on a walk-in walk out basis, although it can also be performed under general anaesthetic. This technique works very similarly to Laser (EVLA) and is recognised by NICE as being equivalent.

Find out more about the treatment here.

Short wave diathermy, laser or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are all effective treatments for facial thread (spider) veins depending on their size. Short wave diathermy is very effective for spider veins (spider naevi) and the larger facial thread veins due to aging and sun exposure whereas laser and IPL are best for the tiny diffuse veins such as seen in patients with Rosacea.

Our qualified doctors are highly experienced in performing thread (spider) vein removal procedures so you can rest assured you’re in safe and reliable hands.

Find out more here.

Spider veins, also known as thread veins, or by the medical term Telangiectasia, are small, twisted blood vessels that appear in a spiderweb pattern through your skin often on your legs or face.

They are similar to varicose veins but smaller and caused in the same way when a one-way valve in your vein, that help your blood flow back to your heart, stops working properly and your vein swells as blood flows the wrong way.

Micro-sclerotherapy is by far the most effective treatment for the majority of patients with leg spider (thread) veins.

Find out more about the treatment here.

Foam also known as Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy is a technique used to treat varicose veins. It is approved by NICE for use in patients who are not suitable for Endothermal Ablation (Laser or RFA). It is also permitted as an adjunctive treatment used in combination with Endothermal Ablation.

Find out more about what the treatment involves, who is suitable, how long it lasts here.

Varicose vein surgery removes varicose veins that are unsightly or causing discomfort.

It allows you to feel better about your appearance so that you can wear what you want without worrying about your varicose veins being visible.

It can also eliminate the pain that varicose veins may cause and allow you to sleep better and may increase your mobility.

New therapies are effective in removing varicose veins, have few complications and minimal pain during recovery and, leave virtually no scars.

The cost of your varicose vein surgery will depend on the exact procedure you have. Following your consultation process, you will be advised of the guide package price.

We offer a number of finance options to pay for your surgery, including: All-inclusive Total Care where a single one-off payment at a pre-agreed price delivers direct access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance, pay as you go and, medical finance loans.

Your recovery and aftercare following varicose veins surgery will depend on the exact procedure you have had. Your healthcare team will advise you of this before you go home.

Most patients go home on the same day. You will usually be given compression stockings and advised how long to wear them.

After varicose vein treatments we recommend that someone drives you home.

Sclerotherapy and endovenous patients can resume normal daily activities once home and drive again when comfortable.

If you’ve had Ligation and stripping surgery, you should be able to get back to most activities after three to four weeks, as long as your wounds have healed, although this will depend on your general health and the type of work you do. You should be able to drive again after around one week, when you can comfortably operate the pedals and control your car in all situations including an emergency stop.

Ramsay Health Care offers the latest in varicose vein treatments for both medical and cosmetic reasons.

Varicose vein treatment for cosmetic reasons is rarely available on the NHS. Ramsay understands the distress that unsightly varicose veins can cause and we regularly treat patients with varicose veins for cosmetic reasons.

Our experienced surgeons offer convenient appointments to discuss your individual varicose vein treatment options with the choice of modern walk in walk out procedures including, VNUS Closure®, that benefit from minimal scarring and pain.