Conventional Vein Treatments

Support Hosiery

Special support stockings can be used to relieve symptoms of discomfort or aching secondary to varicose veins. They are available in graduated classes of increasing compression and are available commercially or they can be prescribed and fitted by your doctor / practice nurse. Support stockings (either above or below the knee) are only used for symptomatic relief and do not result in any improvement or regression of varicose veins.

Conventional Surgery

Conventional Varicose Vein Surgery

Surgery is the traditional technique for treating varicose veins and requires a general anaesthetic. A 3-5cm incision is made in the groin and the connection between the main superficial vein in the thigh and the main deep vein is tied off. The superficial vein is then stripped out through an additional incision on the inside of the knee. In cases where the vein connection behind the knee is the cause of the varicose veins an incision is made here to tie this connection off. Small varicosities below the knee are removed through further incisions (less than 3mm in size) – these are called ‘phlebectomies’ or ‘avulsions’.

Most conventional varicose vein operations are now done as day-case procedures and do not routinely require an overnight hospital stay. However, patients are required to wear support stockings for a week following surgery and a convalescence period of 1 to 2 weeks is usually needed. Complications of varicose vein surgery are generally uncommon but include bleeding, wound infection, nerve damage, deep vein thrombosis and varicose vein recurrence.

New Techniques

Vein Solutions Offer A Range Of Treatments For Varicose Veins

Several new techniques for varicose veins treatment have been developed over recent years and are offered by Vein Solutions, these are Laser Therapy – EVLT,  Radiofrequency Ablation – VNUS and  Foam Sclerotherapy. These techniques avoid the need for a formal incision in the groin and usually do not require general anaesthesia. Patients have their treatment in the outpatient clinic in less than an hour and are able to return to their normal activities the next day. The long-term results of laser treatment (3 years) in terms of recurrence rates of the varicose veins are comparable with that for conventional surgery.

Read about treatment of thread veins and facial veins.