Varicose Veins
They are swollen and enlarged veins, which are often blue or dark purple in colour making them very noticeable even through tights/stockings. The veins are also sometimes bumpy, twisted or have bulges.
Varicose Veins Symptoms
- Discomfort/pain
- Legs may feel achy or heavy
- Swelling around the ankles/feet due to the poor circulation
- Muscle cramps or night cramp
- Itchiness
- Changes in the skin called varicose eczema
What Causes Varicose Veins?
In a healthy vein, blood flows smoothly to the heart through the body’s network of veins and capillaries. Small valves inside the veins work continuously to push the blood around the body circulating nutrients and removing toxins, sending blood to the heart. The valves also prevent the blood from flowing backwards.
Varicose veins occur when these tiny valves stop working efficiently. If the valves become inefficient, weak or damaged, the blood can collect in the vein which cases it to be swollen and enlarged. This is the condition known as varicose veins.
Varicose veins are a common condition, affecting up to three in 10 adults. Women tend to be more affected than men.
Risk factors include:
- age
- genetic predisposition (hereditary condition)
- gender
- being overweight
- pregnancy
- old age
- excessive standing or walking, which puts pressure on the lower body area
In the case of weight or pregnancy related varicose veins, it may be a temporary condition which can be relieved through weight loss.
Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins do not tend to get better and can actually get worse with time if not treated.
The veins themselves provide no real purpose removal of them is perfectly safe and worthwhile.
Although varicose veins may have an unpleasant appearance, they should not affect circulation or cause long-term health problems. Therefore the NHS offers very little treatment for varicose veins and resources are being further cut at present.
The first line of treatment is prevention – losing any excess weight. The second option would be to use compression stockings which improve circulation in the legs and to raise the leg area regularly.
However, if this is not effective, achievable or practical and the varicose veins are causing embarrassment or discomfort or they cause complications then treatment options privately may be considered.
Varicose veins can be treated via endovenous laser or other techniques according to the nature of the veins. More about varicose vein treatment and EVLA (endovenous laser).
Spider Veins, Thread Veins
Cosmedics also offer sclerotherapy and laser treatment for thread veins or spider veins on the face or body.
For further information, please enquire.
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does it hurt i have varicose veins. how much the price
Hi, Varicose vein treatment costs depend on the procedure required. The most common is endovenous laser, which is done under local anaesthetic on a ‘walk in, walk out’ basis and costs from £1,550. Recovery takes between a few days and a week according to severity of veins and procedure needed.
Consultation with vascular surgeon including ultrasound scan at the same appointment is £150.
Smaller leg thread veins can be removed from £250.
Thanks for this good post
Hello I’m just enquiring about varicose veins on the back of my legs they are very bumpy and really stand out and are very noticeable would really like to have them dealt with if you can let me know what my best option is many thanks Mand x
Hi, please contact our veins advisor on 020 7386 0464 or email veinclinic@cosmedics.co.uk to discuss your requirements and options. If it sounds what you’re looking for, the best way forward then is to arrange an appointment with our vascular surgeon.
Hi, do you do ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy and what is the cost if two veins need to be delt with (outside of 150 scan fee). Also, which one of your clinic offers this treatment.
Many thanks
We offer foam sclerotherapy at our Putney clinic with our Consultant Vascular Surgeon. The clinic does have ultrasound if that is required. Foam sclerotherapy costs £500-750 per leg according to complexity.