Traditional Treatments

Traditional Surgery:

Most varicose veins of the legs are never treated. The mainstay of treatment for those that still remain surgery; most commonly tying and stripping. Such surgery is very effective in most cases and most patients are pleased with the results but it is far from perfect. It is expensive, time-consuming, uncomfortable at best and usually requires a general anesthetic. Patients need significant time off work and play whilst they convalesce. Scars are inevitable and recurrence of symptoms and varicose veins occurs in at least 10% of patients after surgery.

Minimally Invasive Techniques:

Over the last 15 years several new interventional radiological (minimally invasive ultrasound-guided) techniques have been developed to replace surgery for this common problem and provide an effective treatment for all veins; even those which are apparently minor and causing cosmetic problems only for which many patients are unwilling to have an operation. There are two main techniques (RF ablation (VNUS Closure®) and Laser Ablation (EVLA or EVLT)) both of which have been extensively studied and been shown to be both safe and effective and to produce very encouraging results even for difficult recurrent varicose veins.

Although the latest minimally invasive procedures can be offered to most patients there will still be the occasional one who, given the choices, will opt for traditional treatment. Although we strongly advise against this, it can be arranged following consultation. We always accept that the final decision is the patients. It is very important however to be presented with all the options with their risks and benefits. Sadly many patients are still only offered surgical stripping and not told about minimally invasive methods to remove their varicose veins.

Before looking at the different types of traditional treatment there are a number of simple, generally sensible, steps that you can take that may ease your symptoms or prevent them from getting worse. These include:

None of these, however, will make existing varicose veins disappear. The traditional treatments which have been used for the treatment of varicose veins include: