What treatment is available to you to cure the problem of varicose veins?

Varicose veins are large twisted bluish purple veins that tend to be found on the inside of the lefts or rear of the calves and can be caused by genes, pregnancy and age. There is a host of home remedies you can try to either help prevent or to ease the pain of varicose veins; exercising more, changing your diet, avoiding tight clothing, sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time can all help prevent varicose veins.

What if they don’t work?

If these home remedies like changing your diet haven’t worked for you then there are other options that you can try, such as visiting The Private Clinic for treatment. However, compression stockings are the easiest way to prevent varicose veins if home remedies haven’t worked. Compression stockings are designed to squeeze your legs in a way that improves circulation. As the stockings are tighter at the ankles and gradually get looser as they go up the legs, this helps encourage blood flow towards the heart. However, although compression stockings help relieve the pain and discomfort endured by varicose veins, it is unknown whether they can help the total prevention of varicose veins or prevent current veins from getting worse.

Varicose vein surgery

If these methods haven’t worked for you and your varicose veins are causing you serious pain or discomfort, then surgery for varicose vein removal is probably the best option for you. Surgery for varicose veins is conducted under general anaesthetic, so you will be unconscious during the whole procedure. You can generally go home the same day after varicose vein treatment, but sometimes an overnight stay is advised, just to be safe.

Types of surgery

The most common procedure used by surgeons in terms of varicose veins treatment is ligation and stripping. This involves tying off the affected vein inside the leg and then removing it. This involves cutting into the leg in two different areas, usually the groin the knee or ankle. The vein is then tied at the top point near you groin before being pulled out by a wire at the bottom incision.

Another option is sclerotherapy, which is for people with small or medium sized varicose veins. The procedure involves injecting a chemical into the veins that then scars them and seals them closed. This is generally done under local anaesthetic.

There are a number of other different surgical treatments for varicose veins that can be conducted, but it is important to refer to you GP to find the best solution for you.