Varicose Veins

What are they?

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted blood vessels most commonly found in the legs, often presenting as bulges of a dark purple or blue colour. They are a result of blood pooling (stasis) in the veins due to a weakness of the vein’s wall and/or valve damage in the leg (venous insufficiency). Varicose veins can be a cosmetic issue, however when they become painful or associated with swelling, cramps or skin discolouration /eczema, you should seek medical advice.

In rare cases varicose veins can lead to complications such as ulcers, blood clots or bleeding from a burst vein close to the skin, which may severely affect quality of life. We provide a variety of the latest minimally invasive procedures to treat varicose veins, the choice and combination of which will depend on each individual case.

Symptoms can worsen throughout the day and are partially relieved by elevating the legs or wearing compression stockings.

Sometimes varicose veins can clot and become painful, hot, hard and discoloured. This is an indication of thrombophlebitis, a condition not as serious as DVT which gets better on its own within a few days or weeks. Clots associated with phlebitis are not dangerous; as they are limited to surface veins they don’t normally travel to the heart or lungs and cause life-threatening conditions. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) refers to clots that form in the deep veins, which can then travel to the heart or lungs and could become life threatening.

Symptoms

  • Pain especially after sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time

  • Heavy feeling in your legs

  • Restless legs

  • Burning sensation around the veins

  • Itching

  • Skin discoloration/brown staining around a varicose vein

  • Rarely bleeding, spontaneous bruising, or thrombophlebitis (hard and tender varicose veins)

Spider Veins

Spider veins (also called telangiectasias) differ from varicose veins, however venous insufficiency is the underlying cause for both problems. Spider veins are smaller, thinner veins closer to the skin that may be raised or flat. They can present as a blue, purple or red colour and are easily visible on the legs and face. Spider veins form when structural abnormalities in the blood vessels prevent blood from being pushed back to the heart, leading to stasis (blood pooling) and venous reflux (backflow of blood).

Spider veins are often a cosmetic issue, however they can cause pain and discomfort depending on the severity and the presence of larger varicose veins. Compression therapy is usually recommended before any procedure is undertaken. Spider veins can be treated with liquid or foam sclerotherapy, and compression stockings should be worn for several days.

Treatments

  • Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)

    Endovenous laser treatment is a minimally invasive ultrasound-guided technique used for treating severe varicose veins. This method uses heat generated by radiation (laser or radiofrequency) to create scar tissue and close the vein. The laser fibre is inserted into the vein via a catheter, which is activated and then pulled back slowly. EVLT is a day-case procedure, meaning the patient can walk in and walk out the same day.

  • Venaseal

    The VenaSeal closure system is a recently developed technique to treat varicose veins. The procedure uses an injectable medical adhesive which treats the underlying source of varicose veins, reversal of venous blood flow or reflux in the great and small saphenous vein. The method is non-thermal, non-tumescent and non-sclerosant, offering a quick recovery time and minimised pain and discomfort during the procedure.

  • Sclerotherapy

    Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat blood vessels or blood vessel malformations and also those of the lymphatic system. A solution (liquid or foam) is injected to irritate the lining of the vessel, causing the vein to collapse and the blood to clot. This method is often used to treat smaller varicose or spider veins, however a foam solution can be used for larger veins. It can also be used in conjunction with other treatments.