Telegraph: How I finally got rid of my varicose veins… forever

The Telegraph features the story of Fiona, who had laser varicose vein treatment 20 years after vein stripping to remove a post-pregnancy varicose vein. 

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How I finally got rid of my varicose veins… forever

Fiona describes the discovery that her varicose veins were back:

“Somewhere in the middle of last summer, while on holiday in Cornwall, I was having one of those rare optimum moments. I felt that my weight – a constant struggle – was under control and that life was good. I mentioned to my husband as we were preparing to set off to the beach, me wearing a knee-length dress, that I was quite pleased with the shape of things – literally – and he said, ‘Yes, it’s all good, but have you noticed the back of your legs?’ I heard the needle scratch the record. ‘Obviously I haven’t seen the back of my legs. It’s not something I think to do all that often.’

“Immediately hysterical, I tried desperately to swivel and see what he was talking about. ‘Snakes,’ he murmured, nervously backing out of the bedroom.

“They were back: the nasty cluster of wormy invaders climbing up the back of my calves.  I hadn’t noticed; I had been too busy dealing with the myriad tiny daily disasters that confront me just looking at my front view in the mirror.”

Her previous experience of varicose veins was after having children.

“I know about varicose veins. After I had children in my 30s I noticed a few on my left leg, which I had removed. That was 20 years ago and it involved an operation where the vein from behind my left knee was literally ‘stripped’ out of the leg.

“Back then, there was no ultrasound scanning done on veins: the surgeon just looked at the offending area and made a decision about what to do. It was believed that simply stripping the vein from the leg while the patient was under general anaesthetic was enough to prevent it from recurring. Wrong! It turns out that the veins do actually grow back.”

She describes the experience of an ultrasound scan, which is now used to understand the precise nature of the vein, monitoring how the blood is flowing and establishing where and why it pools.

Her varicose vein removal in a private clinic was carried out as a ‘day case’ and started with laser/radiofrequency varicose vein treatment.  The procedure took an hour.

Fiona describes the practical issues involving compression stockings, which had to be worn for 21 days.  8 weeks after she had sclerotherapy for spider veins and thread veins, after which shorter compression stockings are required.

She concludes:

“I won’t be running out any time soon in bare legs and a miniskirt, but let’s face it, that was never going to happen. But, I will be able to walk down the path to the beach in my summer dress and not have to worry about the person behind me having to look at my snakes.”

Laser Varicose Vein Treatment

EVLA

EVLA laser treatment is an advanced treatment for varicose veins using laser energy, which is predominantly available in private clinics. Success rates are in excess of 95% and the procedure is done on a day case basis, with no requirement to have lengthy recovery time off work.

London Vein Treatment Centre

With the launch of the new Harley Street clinic, Cosmedics Skin Clinics now offer private varicose vein treatment at two London Vein Treatment Centres.

• 4 Disraeli Road, Putney, London, SW15 2DS
• 41 Harley Street, London, W1G 8QH

The most popular option is EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a 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 and the most comprehensive vein treatment solution for each individual.

For more information, please complete the form to the right hand side or call 020 7386 0464.