Historically varicose veins were treated with painful surgical stripping operations that involved a general anaesthetic. Thankfully varicose vein treatment was revolutionised by the development of high quality, portable ultrasound scanners. Modern Ultrasound Guided vein treatments are all performed under local anaesthetic as a walk in, walk out, day case procedure. These treatments are more effective, virtually pain free and the recovery is far quicker.  Most people can return to driving, normal activities and work the next day.

There are currently a wide range of treatments available for varicose veins and thread veins, each having its own advantages and limitations. Not all treatments are suitable for all types of veins and a thorough and detailed assessment by an expert that includes a duplex scan is essential before contemplating any treatment.

There are 4 main methods for treating varicose veins

• Treatments that use heat energy to close the vein from the inside (EVLT and RFA)
• Injection treatments using a prescription medicine called a sclerosant
• Superficial vein removal (Micro-Phlebectomies)
• Medical superglue (Venaseal™)

The medical term for heat based vein treatment is Endothermal Ablation. This treatment involves using laser or microwave technology to heat the vein from the inside. The vein is numbed with dilute local anaesthetic and the procedure itself is almost painless.

The procedure is done by accurately placing a fine catheter or laser fibre inside the vein using ultrasound guidance. This is done through a small needle, usually inserted in the calf. The vein is then heated from the inside and sealed as the catheter is slowly removed. This treatment is the gold standard for most types of veins and is recommended by NICE as the first line treatment for this condition. Learn more about heat based vein treatments here: Endovenous Laser Therapy and Radiofrequency Ablation.

Injection based treatments have been around for a long time and are very safe. An injectable medication known as a sclerosant can be either directly injected into the vein or mixed with gas to make a foam. This is done under n then be injected under ultrasound control. The sclerosant medication removes the lining of the vein wall and causes the vein to thrombose and over time the vein is reabsorbed by the body. These techniques are very versatile and the concentration of the sclerosant medication injected is varied to suit the specific vein being treated. This is the technique of choice for treating thread veins, it also works well on small and medium sized veins that are not near the skin. Sclerosant injections can also be performed through a mechanical catheter such as ClariVein®. Learn more about injection based vein treatments here:

To improve the way that the leg looks and feels, lumpy veins that are near the skin can be removed through tiny 1mm incisions known as micro-phlebectomies. This is very different to traditional surgical stripping and is done under local anaesthetic. These tiny incisions heal within 1 week normally and by 3 months are barely visible. This is normally done in combination with other treatments. You can learn more about superficial vein removal here.

One of the most recent vein treatments to become available is medical super glue. The Venaseal™ procedure is done by passing a fine catheter to up the vein and then injecting tiny amounts of glue to stick the vein closed. Whilst early results are promising this treatment is reserved for specific individual cases.

Learn more about medical superglue here:

No vein treatment on its own is perfect and the best results are normally obtained by tailoring a combination of treatments to the individual vein problem. Because we are experts in using the full range of currently available vein treatments, we can tailor the treatment to your individual vein condition to obtain the very best results. If you would like to know what treatment would be best for your own vein condition you can book a consultation now.