We offer varicose vein treatment using minimally invasive techniques that are clinically proven to have the best outcomes for our patients. Our world class treatment pathway has been designed by Professor Stephen Black, one of the UK’s leading vascular surgeons.
The appearance of veins on our legs, no matter how small, is a clear indication of the potential progression of vein disease and should therefore be taken seriously. Veins usually carry blood from the legs up to the heart. The blood is prevented from flowing backwards by one-way valves, however, if these valves become faulty blood is able to flow back down into the legs where it pools and hardens causing varicose veins.
Varicose vein symptoms affect men and women differently. In men, itching of the skin is the main symptom whilst women typically report heaviness and aching however anyone can have any combination of these symptoms. It is worth noting that many of these symptoms are not specific to varicose veins only – for example, pain may be due to arthritis.
Vein disease is a progressive condition, and our ultrasound scanning team, led by the award-winning Fabrizio D’Abate, will help you understand whether varicose vein treatment is the right first step for you at this time.
During this phase, we assess the cause of your varicose veins, get a full and accurate 'map' of them, detect any clotting or other abnormalities in your deep veins and determine what the best course of action is.
At the conclusion of your initial appointment, you will have a better understanding of your condition, the options available to you and the implications of any vein treatment that we prescribe.
Current scientific evidence points to Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (EVRF) treatment, as the best overall option. Unlike other techniques, it can be completed under local anaesthetic and carries lower risks of scarring and post-op recovery time, and consistently delivers excellent results.
This is a minimally invasive form of thermal treatment that uses radio energy to generate and direct a precise source of heat. Thermal treatments like this are recognised by the UK’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as the best option for varicose vein treatment procedures.
What are the advantages of Radiofrequency Ablation to treat varicose veins?
This method is highly effective in sealing off the problematic vein and rerouting blood to healthier vessels. EVRF has many advantages, such as a short recovery time, a high success rate and it is known to cause minimal discomfort - patients can often return to their normal activities shortly after the procedure. Unlike other techniques, it can be completed under local anaesthetic, carries lower risks of scarring and post-op recovery time, and consistently delivers excellent results. EVRF is a particularly great treatment option for larger varicose veins and provides lasting relief from symptoms.
Occasionally, we use this ultrasound-guided treatment that consists of a special foam being injected directly into the damaged vein to close it. Sclerotherapy is an older form of surgery, but it is precisely the use of advanced duplex ultrasound scanning that makes it as modern and reliable as other, newer techniques.
If the idea of an injection does not appeal to you, there is no need to worry; this is a virtually painless procedure that is also carried out under local anaesthesia. Sclerotherapy carries a low risk of varicose vein recurrence and aftercare is as simple as the procedure itself.
What are the advantages of sclerotherapy for treating varicose veins?
Foam sclerotherapy offers several advantages, including minimal downtime, and excellent cosmetic results with minimal discomfort. It's a valuable option for those looking to eliminate visible varicose veins without the need for surgery and although several sessions may be required to completely remove varicose veins, patients can often return to their daily activities soon after each treatment.
Our aftercare team, are highly experienced specialist vascular nurses, always available to answer any questions you may have and provide crucial guidance if any issues emerge.
How long it takes to return to normal life after treatment will depend on each individual, but patients are typically able to carry on as before within a matter of days or even hours. However, if you’ve had varicose vein treatment, you will have to wait up to 48 hours before bathing the affected area.
We recommend you keep your stockings on continuously in the first 48 hours and once you've bathed, you can put your stockings back on during the day for the next week, or for as long as you can tolerate them. We recommend that you avoid any short-haul flights for 2 weeks and long-haul flights for 4 weeks.
We constantly monitor the medical, cosmetic and mental health benefits of the treatment we provide throughout your journey. This is because, in addition to benefits such as reduction in pain, itching, swelling, or skin discolouration, significant improvements in self-esteem also arise upon varicose vein treatment.
At several points, we will ask you to complete the Aberdeen questionnaire, an internationally recognised measurement of vein treatment outcomes. This information helps us understand the progress you are making, as well as the positive impact that the treatment is having on your life.
This data will be used anonymously for research and training purposes, as it helps us ensure that improving patient outcomes are the focus of how our treatment is developed over time.
Our approach is driven by results, and our care pathway is managed by leading vascular surgeon Professor Stephen Black. Thanks to our experience in performing these operations, we're also able to guarantee the result: the varicose veins we target for treatment will be closed successfully for the price you pay.
The criteria for getting your varicose veins removed on the NHS is now severely restricted, which has led to many people not seeking treatment due to cost concerns. That’s why some of the NHS’s leading vascular experts helped set up the UK Vein Clinic: to keep offering world-class treatment and lasting relief to as many people as possible.
At the UK Vein Clinic, treatment is offered for a fair, fixed fee. To learn more about our different pricing plans for varicose vein treatment, visit our Pricing page here.
For those of you who have medical insurance, did you know that your AXA or Bupa health policy covers all scans, treatment and aftercare? When booking an appointment, our clinical team will ask you for details of your private insurance membership number and any pre-authorisations you have received from your insurance provider. To find out if your insurer is one of our partners, visit our health insurers page here.
If any information is missing at this stage from AXA or Bupa, we will follow up with them directly to ensure that your treatment has been approved, so you can have full peace of mind throughout the process.
First, our specialist vascular scientist and vascular doctor team will carry out a full duplex ultrasound scan of the affected area and advise you on your treatment options.
Depending on the outcome of this appointment, we’ll book you in for a return visit where we’ll carry out treatment. We only carry out minimally invasive treatments, so you’ll be able to walk in-and-out the same day. Six to eight weeks after your treatment, we'll arrange to see you again, to ensure the veins we have targeted have been properly closed.
We focus exclusively on specialised, minimally invasive thermal treatments using radio waves, namely Radiofrequency Ablation. We do so because these treatments have been proven to offer the best available outcomes for patients (as recognised by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence).
Another minimally invasive technique available at the UK Vein Clinic is Sclerotherapy or, more specifically, Foam Sclerotherapy. It consists of a harmless foam solution being injected into the varicose vein, blocking off blood flow to the vein and allowing the vein to dissolve into the body.
All our treatments are minimally invasive so you can walk in and walk out the same day. A typical treatment session generally takes between 30 and 45 minutes.
Most patients report only slight discomfort, if any, during the procedures (although everyone’s response to treatment and threshold for pain will vary).
Radiofrequency Ablation is carried out under local anaesthetic - small injections are given in the affected area until it becomes completely numb. The treated area can feel tender or numb immediately after treatment, and some patients report feeling the vein as a sore line or string inside the skin for a few days afterwards.
It's also common for the treated area to start to feel more sore in the second week after treatment. Any discomfort like this can be managed using simple over-the-counter pain relief (such as Paracetamol, Aspirin and Ibuprofen).
Sclerotherapy does not require general anaesthetic either. Very well tolerated by the vast majority of patients, it’s a brief injection to close each vein: similar to having a blood test or flu jab.
We only use non-invasive treatments that minimise the risk of complications and post-op pain. However, all procedures can lead to minor adverse effects such as bruising, redness, and tenderness in the treated area. Some patients find the area feels numb for a few days; others experience some minor discomfort that is usually managed using over-the-counter pain relief. Very occasionally, some patients experience a slight staining of the skin that will mostly clear up over time.
If you’ve had varicose vein treatment on your leg(s), we will ask you to wear compression stockings continuously for the first 48 hours post-treatment and then keep these on during the day for the next weeks, or for as long as you can tolerate them.
Yes, if you have a pacemaker you can still get treatment for your varicose veins.
You can have your diagnostic assessment, but we may recommend waiting until after the birth to undertake treatment.
Yes, if you're diabetic you can still have varicose vein treatment.
In most cases, varicose veins do not go away by themselves once they develop. While lifestyle changes and compression stockings can help ease symptoms, they won’t remove the veins completely.
Modern varicose vein treatments work by closing or removing the affected veins, improving blood flow and reducing both discomfort and visible veins. Most patients see clearer-looking legs and relief from symptoms such as aching, swelling and itching.
After treatment for larger varicose veins, we advise avoiding long-haul flights for 6 weeks, as flying soon after the procedure can increase the risk of thrombosis in a pressurised cabin. You can usually drive again as soon as you feel able to safely perform an emergency stop. Light exercise can be resumed once you feel comfortable, with activity levels increasing gradually as you recover.
Varicose veins are assessed using a vascular ultrasound (duplex scan), which shows how blood is flowing through the veins and identifies the underlying cause, not just the visible veins.
The scan maps faulty veins, checks deeper veins are healthy, and helps specialists choose the most effective minimally invasive varicose vein treatment for the best possible outcome.
Both laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are effective ways to treat varicose veins using heat. However, radiofrequency ablation is often preferred because it delivers treatment in a more controlled and consistent way.
RFA treats the vein in short sections, helping ensure even results and making outcomes more predictable. Patients also tend to find RFA less painful after treatment compared to laser.
For these reasons, many vein specialists choose radiofrequency ablation as their first option for treating varicose veins.
Vein Health Assessment
Take our 2-minute self-assessment to find out how you could benefit from a varicose vein treatment.
Varicose veins can be painful and make it difficult to exercise and be active
We're pleased to be able to provide our world-class varicose vein treatment in a variety of places throughout the United Kingdom. Learn more about your treatment options, including endovenous radio-frequency ablation (EVRF) and foam sclerotherapy, at the clinic closest to you.
