Best varicose vein treatment?

[RandomMess]

Has anyone researched or know the "best" method for getting rid of a HUGE varicose vein?

Not painful yet and obviously will have to pay to have it done privately but prices seem to vary massively and presumably that is due to different treatment options?

TIA

Mine was done by radio frequency ablation - apparently the current "gold standard" according to the consultant who did it. He warned against the foam method as it can leave marks on the skin and has a higher complication/recurrence rate. I have a friend who had that method and she has to have an annual review and a couple of more treatments since so I tend to believe him on that.

It was done under a local and I didn't feel a thing. I also had the surface vein removed at the same time.

Sounds interesting how much did it cost?

Just shy of £3k when everything taken into account. Best £3K I ever spent and I wish I hadn't waited so long

Eek quite a bit but I do worry about if it bursts etc, it's HUGE and bulging.

I hope you don't mind me asking as it's not my post. Do you think it would work on legs literally covered in varicose veins? I've had them since I was 16 (now in my 40s) - first at the back of my knee on one leg and now years later they are bulging out up and down both legs. My midwife even showed a colleague as they were so bad and of interest (I guess).

Just wondering if when it's main veins and so many of them whether I am better just leaving them. Never worn shorts or skirts above the knee which makes me feel sad sometimes as I missed out on all that.

Mine are a bit like that too, Satsunday, so I am sending you solidarity! It’s a huge downer.

@Satsunday

The consultant told me it's not the visible veins that are the cause - the actual failed vein is much deeper and not visible but causes pressure in those nearer the surface which makes them varicose. Once that one troublesome one has been ablated the other visible and painful veins collapse and problem solved!

I chose to have my visible vein removed at the same time rather than wait and see if it would disappear on its own but that was my choice ( 50:50 odds).

It's worth paying the £250 or so consultation fee to see what your options are. I really wish I'd had it done 20 years ago - I'd have saved myself a lot of pain if I had

Thanks @ShortSilence. It is due to my fear of medical things thats stopped me having anything done but I regret not having them done years ago.

Thanks for the info @WitchQueenofDarkness. I don't actually get much pain from them at all so that's good. They just so horrible to look at and I seem to be getting more of them by the day. Can't even wear cropped trousers now as they're down the whole of my legs to my ankles. But I can't see how I would have enough other veins left if I got rid of all of the visible ones!!