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Varicose veins - available treatments
Who should receive treatment ?
Anybody with varicose veins, irrespective of whether their complaint is simply cosmetic or a combination of cosmetic and symptoms, should receive treatment. Varicose veins are a slowly progressive condition and will get worse with time. Although the veins may be causing very little trouble at this stage they will with time progress and may eventually lead to quite marked skin changes, and in a few patients, ulceration.When should I complain about my veins ?
You should consult your General Practitioner as early as possible. He will then refer you to a surgeon with a particular interest in veins. The earlier you present, the better the long term and cosmetic results.What does treatment for varicose veins involve ?
Before you undergo treatment you will require a formal assessment. This involves a clinical examination and a noninvasive vascular assessment (no needles). The non-invasive vascular assessment involves looking at the flow of blood through the legs, checking to see that the valves in the veins are functioning normally and to see where problems with the veins have arisen. This is a new procedure and allows the doctor treating you to accurately identify the problems and treat you. This has very significantly reduced the chances of you ever any having further trouble once you have undergone treatment. It has also resulted in much better functional and cosmetic results.What treatments are available ?
Once you have been formally assessed the treatment options will be put to you. These include wearing elastic stockings, injection treatment or surgery. Early varicose veins can be managed very successfully by injection treatment. Injection treatment for varicose veins involves injecting an irritant substance into the veins, such that the vein walls stick together. You will be asked to wear a tight elastic compression bandage for three days until the vein walls have become irritated and stuck together.If you have bigger veins or veins that are filling because of incompetent valves you would be better treated by surgery. You will be given a choice and the final decision always remains yours.
If you require surgical treatment, again this will be explained to you in detail.
Private consultations:
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 9563
Fax: +44 (0)20 7259 9938
e-mail: