Varicose Veins Affect 41% Women Over 50

Estimate Source: Chicago Vein Institute

The Chicago Vein Institute estimates that varicose veins affect 41% of women over the age of 50.

This statistic means that more than 1 in 3 women over 50 are experiencing the problems associated with this common circulation problem.

Varicose veins are not just unsightly – they can cause a great deal of discomfort and even pain, making the legs feel heavy and uncomfortable. The poor circulation can lead to skin issues such as itching, dry skin and even ulcers.

Yet a surprisingly low number will actually get the problem treated as the NHS is unable to offer treatment apart from in the worst cases. The NHS website states:

“Varicose veins are rarely a serious condition and they don’t usually require treatment.”

But for many people, the sensations are intolerable. Compression stockings may provide some relief and lifestyle changes (diet/exercise) can prevent the problem from getting worse, but unfortunately once established, the only real ‘cure’ for varicose veins is to have them treated.

That’s why many people are now turning to the private sector for treatment.

Varicose Vein Removal

The only really effective way to resolve varicose veins for good is with surgery. However, that doesn’t have to mean painful vein stripping with a long recovery. Modern varicose vein surgery is provided in private clinics on a day case basis using laser technology which offers excellent results and fast recovery.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein). There is no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay and patients can walk out of the clinic with the varicose veins gone.

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

 

New Year Interest Peak for Vein Treatments

January Biggest Ever Month for Veins Website

The website www.veintreatmentcentre.co.uk was launched in June 2015 and is less than a year old, but January 2016 saw the highest number of website visits so far with a marked increase.

This increase is partly down to seasonality.

The New Year is traditionally a time when people take more interest in their health and appearance. It’s a time when people commit to losing weight, quitting smoking or generally living better. The media focus around body image and appearance is huge.

Many people make a personal commitment to tackle things they don’t like about themselves.

In the case of vein problems such as varicose veins or thread veins, there is relatively little that can be done on a self-help level once the problem has appeared. Established veins need to be treated or removed by a medical professional using specific treatment methods.

Vein Removal Treatments

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Trained doctors offer thread vein removal at a selection of clinics based in London using the latest techniques.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

 

What Vitamins Could Help Varicose Veins

Good diet is one of the recommended measures for patients with varicose veins, or for whom varicose veins run in the family. 

A sensible diet can help to maintain a healthy weight, which is important as being overweight is known to increase the risk of varicose veins. Eating well can also help to provide good levels of vitamins and minerals; but where there is any concern about vitamin deficiencies, it can be helpful to know what vitamins might be helpful for those with varicose veins.

Every vitamin has a different set of roles to play and those that are important to circulation and immunity may be helpful for those with, or at risk of developing, varicose veins. These key vitamins are important to maintaining health and could have particular benefit to vascular conditions:

  • Vitamin A – keeps tissues and skin healthy. Sources include liver, carrots, broccoli
  • Vitamin C – can help circulation by reducing blood clotting tendencies. Sources include: fruit and vegetables
  • Vitamin D – can relieve leg cramps when taken with calcium and magnesium. Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to the sun. Sources include fatty fish or eggs
  • Vitamin E – is an antioxidant for cardiovascular health, a blood thinner, improves circulation and is also an anti-inflammatory. Generally helps with circulation, which can in turn alleviate the heavy feeling in the legs. Sources include: kiwi, avocado, eggs, milk, nuts, leafy green vegetables

Vitamins are generally best delivered through a healthy balanced diet. If you are looking at supplements, ensure that you are taking them appropriately and do not exceed the recommended daily allowance. If in doubt, consult a doctor before taking supplements.

For most people, once varicose veins have appeared, it is a case of preventing them from worsening. Lifestyle and dietary changes are always beneficial, yet unlikely to fully resolve the problem.

For severe varicose veins, surgery or laser treatment is the only way to fully resolve the problem.

Varicose Vein Removal

Modern varicose vein surgery is provided in private clinics on a day case basis and uses advanced laser treatment for a surprisingly comfortable experience. There is no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay and patients can walk out of the clinic with the varicose veins gone.

Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Tackling Alcohol-Related Red Nose Veins

The winter is often a time when people notice facial veins appearing on the nose, making it look red and obvious.

Traditionally this is considered to be a sign of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and the condition is sometimes known as ‘boozer’s nose’. There can therefore be quite a stigma to developing these veins and some clients can be quite concerned that others may think they are regular, heavy drinkers. A red nose with facial thread veins gives quite an unhealthy look to the face which can be a professional encumbrance.

Patients have reported feeling overlooked for promotion in the workplace, because of the alcoholic stigma associated with ‘boozer’s nose’ and the resulting assumption that they are undependable.

Vein treatment centres notice a lift in enquiries for treatment in winter months as the redness is more obvious.

However, a red nose with spider veins or thread veins is not necessarily associated with heavy drinking. Other factors include a genetic predisposition, too much sun, hormones or pregnancy.

Whatever the cause, facial thread veins can now be quickly and effectively treated using microcautery techniques, laser thread vein or microsclerotherapy injection treatments.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Established in 2003, Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer thread vein removal at a selection of clinics based in London using the latest techniques with GMC-registered doctors and surgeons.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

 

Diagram – Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Cosmedics’ London Vein Treatment Centre has issued a diagram to highlight the signs and symptoms of varicose veins to help patients to understand whether they are developing the problem themselves. 

The advanced stages of varicose veins are well understood – prominent, bulging, painful, purple/blue coloured veins in the legs. However, the condition is a progressive one – it doesn’t get that bad overnight, but over an extended period.

That’s why it’s important to recognise the early signs so that action can be taken to avoid the full-blown varicose veins.

5 common signs of varicose veins

The diagram shows common symptoms:

  1. Bulging veins – this is when the blood is pooling in the veins, making them appear bulky and protruding
  2. Aching/throbbing – the poor circulation leads to a distracting and uncomfortable sensation
  3. Sores – the skin can become inflamed around varicose veins
  4. Itchiness – the veins themselves and the surrounding skin
  5. Swelling – both of the veins and the legs

Benefits of Early Diagnosis

As with many things, in the early stages, there are things which can relieve the varicose veins, slowing the progress of the problem to avoid rapid deterioration.

Treatment in the earlier stages is generally far preferable to treating advanced varicose veins, to avoid the pain, discomfort and other skin issues which develop in the later stages when veins are left untreated.

It also means that surgeons are treating smaller veins and can use less invasive techniques to get the result with faster healing times.

Varicose Vein Removal

Modern varicose vein surgery is provided in private clinics on a day case basis and uses advanced laser treatment for a surprisingly comfortable experience. There is no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay and patients can walk out of the clinic with the varicose veins gone.

Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

CEAP Varicose Veins Classification System

Varicose veins are classified according to CEAP classification, which denotes their severity. 

The classification offers clinicians a choice of 8 stages of varicose vein:

  • C0 – no visible or palpable signs of venous disease
  • C1 – telangectasia or reticular veins – dilated blue veins beneath the skin surface
  • C2 – varicose veins – sub-divided into
    • C2A = Varicose veins with no symptoms
    • C2S = Varicose veins with symptoms
  • C3 – edema – swelling or swollen varicose veins
  • C4a – varicose veins with associated skin conditions e.g. pigmentation, eczema
  • C4b – varicose veins with more severe associated skin conditions e.g. lipodermatosclerosis, atrophie blanche
  • C5 – varicose veins with healed ulcers
  • C6 – varicose veins with active ulcers, which can be very painful

CEAP System for Varicose Veins

The CEAP system was created in order to standardise the reporting of varicose veins. This comprehensive classification system means that diagnosis and treatment is more uniform.

The system was created in 1994 by a committee of the American Venous Forum and is now accepted as the standard scheme by which chronic venous disorders can be classified.

Varicose Vein Treatment UK

Sadly due to budget constraints, the NHS often now has to consider varicose veins as a cosmetic issue, even though they are far more than an aesthetic issue and can cause severe discomfort for the patient.

Varicose veins are not a condition that will go away without treatment, so many people are now turning to the private sector for treatment.

Varicose Vein Removal

The only really effective way to resolve varicose veins for good is with surgery. However, that doesn’t have to mean painful vein stripping with a long recovery. Modern varicose vein surgery is provided in private clinics on a day case basis using laser technology which offers excellent results and fast recovery.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein). There is no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay and patients can walk out of the clinic with the varicose veins gone.

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Thread Vein Treatments Christmas Holidays

Many Brits suffer year round with facial thread veins, hoping they’ll get better or meaning to get around to having treatment on them. 

After Christmas and before the New Year kicks in can be a good time to get thread veins seen to at private skin clinics like Cosmedics’ Vein Treatment Centres.

The winter can be a good time for treating thread veins as the cold weather tends to make them worse.

Fine facial thread veins can be treated using laser thread vein treatment or microcautery techniques by Cosmedics’ doctors.

For more advanced veins in the legs, microsclerotherapy injections tend to be favoured.

Both laser and injections work to damage and destroy the offending veins.

Having the treatment while away from work means that the skin can recover and there’s no need to worry about sun exposure in December.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics in Putney is open:

  • Wednesday 30th – 10am to 8pm
  • Thursday 31st December – 10am to 8pm

Contact us to book an appointment.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Established in 2003, Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer thread vein removal at a selection of clinics based in London using the latest techniques with GMC-registered doctors and surgeons.

Varicose vein removal using advanced EVLA is available at the Putney Vein Treatment Centre with appointments booking for the New Year.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Varicose Veins – Compression Stockings

If you are living with varicose veins, then you might have been advised to wear compression stockings to relieve them. 

How do compression stockings work?

Compression stockings are designed to improve circulation in the legs. The hosiery exerts a modest squeeze or pressure on the lower legs, which helps to propel blood upward toward the heart and prevent it from clogging in sluggish veins.

The stockings are made with a high content of Lycra or polyamide (stretch fabric) and are designed to fit snugly. Although they can be bought online, ideally, patients should be assessed and measured for hosiery to ensure the correct size and class of hosiery is prescribed or recommended.  The stockings come in different lengths and variations including knee high, thigh high, toe free, anklets and knee caps. There are also different levels of pressure on the lower leg available.

The hosiery can help to improve the unpleasant sensation of varicose veins making the legs feeling tired, heavy or uncomfortable.

However, it is a means of helping patients to live with varicose veins and does not constitute a treatment or cure.

Varicose Vein Treatment

The only really effective way to resolve varicose veins for good is with surgery. However, that doesn’t have to mean painful vein stripping with a long recovery. Modern varicose vein surgery is provided in private clinics on a day case basis using laser technology which offers excellent results and fast recovery. There is no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay and patients can walk out of the clinic with the varicose veins gone.

Varicose Vein Removal London

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

 

Retail Workers Need to Put Feet Up

Retail workers are urged to put their feet up between shifts – as those extra hours on the shop floor this Christmas could be taking their toll and storing up circulation problems.

The warning comes from Cosmedics’ Vein Treatment Centre, who see patients with a variety of vein problems in their legs ranging from patches of fine thread veins to full varicose veins.

The company says that standing for extended periods of time is known to put pressure on circulation in the legs and this can cause vein problems to develop.

Thread veins are the lesser of the two, as they don’t cause any physical discomfort. However, aesthetically, they can be a great inconvenience. Severe thread veins can be visible through tights and cause problems and embarrassment for women and men when exposed on holiday.

Varicose veins are considered more of a medical problem as they can feel heavy, achy or painful. The skin can become inflamed and itchy too. Yet due to cutbacks, there is now less and less treatment on the NHS as they are often categorised as a cosmetic issue. Treatment offered tends to be the old-fashioned vein stripping, which has a longer recovery and lower success rate than EVLA laser treatment.

Avoid Vein Problems

Avoidance is always cheaper and easier than treatment. A few tips for retail workers and those who stand for a long time are:

  • Avoiding prolonged standing is advisable
  • Put your feet up when you can – during breaks and when you get home
  • Putting your feet up doesn’t mean no exercise – gentle walks are good for boosting circulation
  • Be vigilant – if you spot any vein problems earlier treatment prevents them getting worse
  • Maintaining a sensible weight generally makes you less prone to developing vein conditions

Vein Removal Treatments

Varicose vein removal is now a lot less uncomfortable and more successful than people think. EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) treatment offers a 95% success rate. Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon.

For smaller thread veins or spider veins, these can be treated in private clinics like Cosmedics Skin Clinics, who offer thread vein removal at a selection of clinics based in London ausing the latest surgical techniques including laser vein treatment, microcautery treatment and sclerotherapy injections (not for facial areas) with trained doctors and surgeons.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.

Can Home Massage Help Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are problematic for two main reasons.

Firstly, they’re unsightly, with a twisted, bulging appearance and a purple/bluish colour. Patients are keen to hide them

Secondly, they can feel very uncomfortable. Patients describe them as heavy or achey. They can also itch, as the skin becomes inflamed.

Massage for Varicose Veins

One remedy that may improve the feel of varicose veins is a simple massage.

Regularly massaging your legs with essential oils can help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with varicose veins, improve circulation and make the skin softer and more hydrated.

The best technique is to carry out a massage sitting up with legs slightly raised (e.g. on a cushion). Warm some massage oil and add a few drops of essential oil – neroli is particularly recommended as it is said to be good for circulation and stimulating new cell growth.

Start at the ankles and work up to the top of the legs using gentle but firm upward strokes. Imagine you are helping the circulation from your legs back up the body. Avoid directly massaging severe varicose veins as it can aggravate them. Be aware of how your body feels. It should take about 5 minutes per leg.

Sadly, massaging varicose veins is for relief of the discomfort and to improve the skin. It is not a cure for the problem.

Varicose Vein Removal

The only really effective way to resolve varicose veins is with surgery. However, that’s not as scary as it sounds. Modern varicose vein surgery is provided in private clinics on a day case basis. There is no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay and patients can walk out of the clinic with the varicose veins gone.

Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.