Varicose Veins

[WhatIfWhatIf]

One of the many gifts my lovely children have left my body with is an array of varicose and spider veins on my legs. Clearly neither stylish nor beautiful and I would love to have them treated so that I don't feel I have to keep my legs covered all summer every year.

Has anyone had leg veins treated successfully and, if so, what method was used to treat them and would you recommend it?

And if you happen to be in London/South East area, would you recommend where you had it done?

There seems to be such an array of different treatment methods and clinics and I don't really know where to start. Initial appointments are expensive too so ideally I'd choose somewhere to go before actually seeing a doctor if that makes sense.

I have a varicose vein and lots of spider veins on my legs and have only opted to treat my spider veins (really just because I think treating the varicose vein will be much more expensive). I had sclerotherapy a few years ago on my spider veins in which a nurse injected each vein with an irritant potassium solution in order to make each spider vein collapse then hopefully disappear. This was sore and uncomfortable (itchy) and unfortunately didn’t work. It probably made them worse as it left some bigger areas of heamosiderin staining. A few years later I got laser treatment which again didn’t work. It cost hundreds of pounds and didn’t really make any difference at all.
I have now given up and in the summer wear linen trousers or maxi dresses and use Sally Hansen leg make up to cover my legs if I’m wearing a dress that shows my legs. It’s crap but I can’t do anything about them!

Thanks for your reply, this is my concern, that it just won't work! I'm the same as you in that I spend the summer in long skirts and linen trousers but would love to be able to wear shorts on holiday without worrying about how awful my legs look.

I'm hoping (foolishly I'm sure!) that some people may have some success stories/magic solutions to share...

I had mine stripped out by a general surgeon (had to go privately as it was only for cosmetic reasons - they weren’t causing pain). I couldn’t have proper pain meds as I was BF so almost passed out, so don’t recommend that, but I’m sure it would’ve been fine with proper pain relief! Healed perfectly (only slightly sore for a week or so IIRC) and haven’t come back a decade later, so really pleased with the results. I believe you can get them lasered now but they can determine which method is most suitable for you. I’d definitely save up for a proper surgeon rather than one of those clinics if at all possible.

I had bad VV. they were removed privately by a surgeon two years ago and they are so much better. The only thing I am left with is an increase in spider veins in one area. The surgery was unpleasant but fine and afterwards I wore compression bandages which were incredibly annoying. But I’m very glad I did it.

I had EVLT on my Varicose veins at Benenden hospital in Kent about 12 years ago. Best thing ever, and they've not come back.

I had left leg vvs stripped out many years ago on the NHS under general. Even then they only did them because they were painful. Think mine were hereditary. The surgeon pulls them out with a crochet hook thing afaik. I had a fairly large wound in my groin but it faded away to nothing and very small ones where the hook went in. I had to wear a compression stocking for 6 weeks & take it easy. They never came back. I want some facial spider veins removed, reading this thread with interest! I think electrolysis can be done on facial veins. That's disappointing pps about the sclerotherapy staining plus lasering failure & increase in spider veins post vv stripping.

I investigated it, saw a vascular surgeon, checked the sclerodermy/laser clinics etc. and so on. The surgeon said not to bother, that the VV wasn't bad enough, and the spider vein treatment is not always permanent anyway.

So I chewed on it for ages and now use Dermablend by Vichy to cover the spider veins up. It works great and lasts all day. That would be for special occasions lol. I otherwise use a cover stick, any brand that works colour wise. Primark, Rimmel you name it, I have them all! And they work to cover up the spider veins which are all over my inner ankles like spaghetti junction.

The VV is in one leg only and is above the knee so I suppose I don't expose it too much but ankles are a bit different! I can live with them without surgery or other interventions now, I've come to accept it for what it is and I know am not alone.

I had this too, at Spire health, it wasn’t pleasant, but it’s almost six years since I had the procedure and I’ve had no problems since, my legs are so much nicer now.

It cost around £4000 for both legs, and the guy found veins that would have become varicose and treated those too, I even had some on my bikini line.

They did advise that you don’t get pregnant for at least a year, so something to consider.

I would 100% recommend it, especially if the veins are painful.

What is EVLT? Is it laser? Thank you

Thanks all so much for your replies. Great to hear some success stories. I'm going to see if I can find a good surgeon locally and see what they say...

I’ve had mine stripped a few times in hospital. Laser ablation I think. I’ve decided it’s not really worth doing as it only lasts about 6 months and then they pop back out again. Similar with the spider ones I’ve had a sclero which stings like hell and again they tend to pop back out again eventually. I’ve just accepted them now.

I had my varicose veins removed (stripped) privately 18yrs ago now, and they came back a short time later 😩. It is something I regret having done, as it was expensive and I was in a lot of pain for weeks after the operation.

I know you asked for success stories, but I thought I would offer my experience, in order to give another perspective.

I had foam scleropathy on both legs. They were bad enough to do on nhs but this was 18 months ago and still not got an appointment. I went private a year ago, vein centre. It was more painful on one leg than the other. Lots of little pinpricks of anaesthetic.

had to wear compression stocking after, walk a lot and keep legs up while sitting, also yo7 can’t fly long haul (4+hours) for a few months after. And go back for a follow up after 6? Weeks. It worked really well, I was quite bruised on one leg for a few weeks. But this summer is the first summer in ages I’ve felt happy wearing shorts or dresses.

and it’s. So much less painful.

they might come back 8n 10 years or so.

id say the sooner you get them done the better.

I have just had my second treatment of Scletotherapy at the Vein Centre. I was really pleased with the results after my first treatment as there were a few veins that I really didn’t like. They responded really well. I would anticipate another couple of sessions. Initial scan cost £250 for scan and treatment is £360 each time. I have full length stockings on for a week. The procedure wasn’t to bad just lots of tiny injections. I leave about 6 weeks between each session

I had EVLT there too as I thought the information available about the procedure beforehand was very thorough. Unfortunately, just over a year later they returned and I am now considering having foam sclerotherapy on the NHS as a complication.

A GP suggested it may be because I wasn't advised to wear stockings for a period afterwards.