Choose the best varicose vein treatment for you
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Start with the evidence
Our clinic will always be led by the scientific evidence on patient outcomes. To date, this points to radiofrequency treatment - a form of minimally invasive varicose vein surgery - as the best overall option. Unlike other surgeries, it can be completed under local anaesthetic, carries lower risks of scarring and post-op pain, and consistently delivers excellent results
Get results
Our focus on evidence and effectiveness is why we follow best practice and conduct a full duplex ultrasound scan both at the start of treatment and afterwards - to confirm that the targeted veins have been closed
We also use standardised data sets throughout the care pathway to assess the impact of our treatment on your quality of life. Using the internationally recognised 'Aberdeen Questionnaire’, we will track changes to your physical and mental wellbeing - to ensure strong evidence of the effectiveness and value for money of treatment
Choose specialist equipment and expert surgeons
Some clinics offering varicose vein treatment are not run by vascular specialists or dedicated to varicose vein care. Our radiofrequency equipment is designed for this purpose - unlike most lasers, for example, and UK Vein Clinic boasts some of the country’s top vascular surgeons and scientists
Choose rigorous standards of care, and a guaranteed outcome
The UK Vein Clinic approach is driven by results, and our care pathway is managed by leading vascular surgeon Stephen Black. Treatment is offered for a fair, fixed fee. 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
Varicose vein treatment and the NHS
Routine varicose vein surgery through the NHS is now severely restricted. 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
Discuss your treatment options with a specialist advisor today
Relief starts here
Managing your risk
Your chances of developing varicose veins in the first place will be affected by a number of factors - your age most importantly, but also any genetic predispositions and your gender
There are some steps you can take to avoid adding to this risk. Adopting an active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking will all help. Following a diet low in sodium and high in Vitamins C and E has also been shown to have an effect
Managing your symptoms
Before considering surgery, you should explore options for improving or alleviating your symptoms. These might include wearing compression stockings (which help your legs pump blood back to the heart and can help prevent thrombosis), and changing how you exercise (to improve your circulation and overall health). However, it’s not possible to reverse the condition or completely get rid of existing varicose veins in this way
Investigate and Assess: expert sonography
The first and final steps in our treatment include a full duplex ultrasound scan, carried out by accredited clinical vascular scientists with decades of experience in diagnosing vascular disorders. These tests help us 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, shape how we treat you - and show how effective that treatment has been
Radiofrequency Ablation
This minimally invasive form of surgery offers the best varicose vein solution currently available. It’s a form of thermal treatment which 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 as the best option for varicose vein treatment
Sclerotherapy
To close some veins, we inject a special foam (‘Foam Sclerotherapy’) directly into the vein. Sclerotherapy is an older form of precise surgery, now greatly improved by the use of advanced duplex ultrasound scanning
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose the UK Vein Clinic?
We give you access to world-class treatment for a fair, fixed fee - and a result that’s guaranteed. Led by the evidence, our team of leading vascular surgeons and scientists only offer specialised treatments that are proven to deliver the best outcome
What should I expect during my visit?
You’ll be seen at our Harley Street clinic by one of our specialist doctors, who’ll carry out a full duplex ultrasound of the affected area and advise you on your treatment options
Depending on the outcome of this consultation, 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 weeks after your treatment, we'll arrange to see you again, to ensure the veins we have targeted have been properly closed. Find out more about your visit
What treatments do you offer - and where?
We focus exclusively on specialised, minimally invasive thermal treatments using radio waves — Radiofrequency Ablation surgery, and thermal coagulation using the Veinwave technique. We do so because these varicose vein treatments are currently proven to offer the best available outcomes for patients (and are recognised for it by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence). Alongside these radiotherapies, we also undertake Micro and Foam Sclerotherapy - supported by duplex ultrasound scanning - to treat some types of vein. Find out more
Treatments and consultations are all carried out in our Harley Street clinic in the heart of Central London’s medical district. Where to find us
How long does the treatment take?
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
Is it painful?
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 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 and Ibuprofen)
Veinwave treatment for thread veins does not require anaesthetic and is virtually painless. (As some patients have put it, it feels a bit like having a hair pulled out. It is much less painful than laser treatments.) Occasionally, patients experience some discomfort after their treatment, but this is almost always managed using basic, over-the-counter pain relief
Sclerotherapy does not require 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
What are the drawbacks of treatment?
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 does not clear up over time
What’s the recovery time after surgery? How soon can I start normal activity again?
How long it takes to return to normal life after treatment will depend on each individual, but typically patients are able to carry on as before within a matter of days or even hours. Thread vein patients are able to resume activities the fastest. If you’ve had varicose vein treatment, you may have to wait up to 48 hours before bathing the affected area. We will also ask you to wear compression stockings for up to 2 weeks (during the second week, you can take these off at night); and recommend that you avoid any long-haul flights for 6 weeks
Will I have to wear compression stockings after the operation?
If you’ve had varicose vein treatment on your leg(s), we will ask you to wear compression stockings for up to 2 weeks (during the second week, you can take these off at night)
I’ve got a pacemaker. Can I still get treatment?
Yes
Is it ok to get treatment if I’m pregnant?
You can have your scan and consultation, but we may recommend waiting until after the birth to undertake treatment
Is it ok to get treatment if I’m diabetic?
Yes
Can I fly, drive, or exercise after surgery?
We advise patients who have had radiotherapy on larger varicose veins to avoid long-haul flights for 6 weeks after treatment, because of the increased risk of thrombosis in a pressurised plane cabin. You can choose to drive again as soon as you feel comfortable enough to perform an emergency stop. How soon you start exercising again will depend on the speed of your recovery, but you can carefully resume exercise as soon as you’re happy to do so
Get expert help with vein health
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