Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged and twisted blood vessels that have a bluish-purple or red colour. These veins typically appear in your legs and are raised above the surface.
This condition develops due to damaged or faulty valves in veins. Veins have one-way valves that stop blood from flowing backward. Due to faulty valves, blood begins to collect in the veins and your veins become enlarged and swollen.
Primary Symptoms
The primary symptoms of varicose veins are highly visible veins in your legs area. You may also have:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Easily Tired
- Sensation in the legs such as a heavy feeling, aching, or burning
Severe Symptoms
In severe cases, varicose veins can lead to:
- Ulcer
- Non-healing sores
- Blood clots
- Bleeding from the veins
- Darkening of the skin
For some people, these veins are just a cosmetic concern. For others, varicose veins can cause pain and can lead to more serious problems.
“Vein Ligation & Stripping” is a traditional surgery that is used to remove varicose veins by making small incisions and physically pulling the varicose veins out of the body. Now, minimal or non-invasive procedures are available that are performed by making tiny needle-like incisions in the skin.
What is the Cost of Varicose Veins Surgery In The UK?
At private hospitals and clinics in the UK, varicose veins surgery typically costs between £750 and £3,720. This will depend on the type of procedure you have. Generally, sclerotherapy is the cheapest treatment and stripping is the most expensive. We will discuss these in more detail later.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the cost of varicose vein surgery near you.
How much is Varicose Vein Surgery in my area?
| Region | Lowest | Highest | Average | No. of Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | £1,695 Veincentre Manchester | £3,414 Circle The Highfield Hospital (BMI) Circle The Alexandra Hospital (BMI) Circle The Beardwood Hospital (BMI) Circle The Lancaster Hospital (BMI) Circle The Beaumont Hospital (BMI) | £2,475 | 16 |
| North East | £2,277 Tees Valley Treatment Centre | £3,414 Circle Woodlands Hospital (BMI) | £2,882 | 4 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,695 Veincentre Leeds | £3,414 Circle The Duchy Hospital (BMI) Circle The Huddersfield Hospital (BMI) Circle Thornbury Hospital (BMI) | £2,816 | 7 |
| East Midlands | £1,695 Veincentre Nottingham | £3,465 Nuffield Health Derby Hospital | £3,360 | 9 |
| West Midlands | £785 Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital | £3,700 Nuffield Health Shrewsbury Hospital | £2,670 | 13 |
| East of England | £2,305 Fitzwilliam Hospital - Ramsay Health Care UK | £3,665 Nuffield Health Brentwood Hospital | £3,094 | 16 |
| London | £1,995 Veincentre London | £3,414 Circle The London Independent Hospital (BMI) | £2,180 | 3 |
| South East | £1,060 Nuffield Health Oxford Hospital, The Manor | £3,720 Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital | £3,414 | 42 |
| South West | £1,695 Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital Veincentre Bristol | £3,480 Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital | £2,305 | 12 |
| Wales | £2,600 Spire Yale Hospital | £2,600 Spire Yale Hospital | £2,600 | 1 |
| Scotland | £1,035 Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital | £3,414 Circle Ross Hall Hospital (BMI) Circle Kings Park Hospital (BMI) | £2,825 | 4 |
What Does Varicose Veins Surgery Involve?
Before The Procedure
Your surgeon will perform a physical examination to locate the faulty valves. To get a better view, your surgeon will use an ultrasound device to visualize the affected veins and check for any blood clots. The surgery will be performed under general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia.
During the Procedure
- Your surgeon will make 2 or 3 cuts on your leg.
- One incision will be made in your groin region.
- The other cut will be made farther down in your leg, either in your ankle or calf.
- After that, your surgeon will thread a thin and flexible plastic wire through your groin incision into the damaged vein.
- The wire is then tied to the varicose vein and pulled out through the lower cut, which pulls the vein out with it.
- Your surgeon will close the incisions with stitches and place bandages and compression stockings on your legs.
After the Procedure
After the surgery, you may need to wear compression stockings for up to a week.
Recovering from varicose vein stripping will take 2 to 4 weeks. Recovery time will also depend on how many veins were stripped and where they were located.
Other Less Invasive Treatment Options
Endo thermal ablation
One of the first recommended treatments of varicose veins is “endothermal ablation”. This procedure involves energy either from lasers (endovenous laser ablation) or high-frequency radio waves (radiofrequency ablation) to seal the faulty veins.
Endothermal ablation is usually used to treat the deeper veins of the leg.
1. Radiofrequency ablation
- In this procedure, the walls of the varicose veins are heated using high-frequency radio waves. A small cut is made just below or above the knees to access the vein.
- By using ultrasound, a thin tube called a catheter is guided into the affected vein.
- After that, a probe is slotted into the catheter that releases high-frequency radio waves. This will heat the faulty vein until its walls collapse and seal it shut.
- Once the varicose vein has been sealed shut, the blood flow will naturally be directed towards the healthy veins.
- The whole procedure will be performed under anaesthesia.
- After radio-frequency ablation, you may need to wear compression stockings for up to a week.
2. Endovenous laser ablation
Endovenous laser ablation is similar to radio-frequency ablation, except it utilizes laser energy rather than radio-frequency energy.
Sclerotherapy
This treatment involves injecting special foam or liquid solution called sclerosant into your veins. The injection is directed to the vein using an ultrasound scan. The foam or the liquid solution scars the veins and seals them close, directing blood flow towards healthier veins.
After sclerotherapy, the varicose vein will disappear over time.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
In this procedure, your surgeon will make a small needle-like incision near the vein and remove it through the incision using a special hook. You may need a repeat procedure to get the desired results.
| - | Ligation & Stripping | Endo-thermal Ablation | Sclerotherapy | Phlebectomy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procedure time | 1 to 2 hour | 1-2 hours | 30-40 minutes | 45-60 minutes |
| Back home from the hospital | Same day | Same day | Same day | Same day |
| Full recovery | 2-4 weeks | 1-2 weeks | 12-24 hours | 1-3 weeks |
| Scotland | Common Risk & Complications | Infection, heavy bleeding, nerve injury, blood clots | Bruising, pain, nerve irritation, numbness, or tingling | Bruising, pain, nerve irritation, numbness, or tingling |
Statistics of Varicose Veins Treatment In The UK
According to a questionaire based survey from 178,669 respondents in the UK (1), the percentages of varicose veins treatments are as follows:
- According to a questionaire based survey from 178,669 respondents in the UK (1), the percentages of varicose veins treatments are as follows:
- Stripping surgery: 24.8%
- Foam sclerotherapy: 15.5%
- Minor procedures: 6.1%
- Other sclerotherapy: 2.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
In many cases, varicose veins only cause mild discomfort and the symptoms can be managed by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding standing for a long period of time and wearing compression stockings. However, in some cases, they may require serious treatment.
Even if your symptoms are not severe, we still recommend you contact your doctor who will advise you on the most appropriate course of action to avoid serious complications in the future.
