Help for varicose veins

These are the main types of surgical treatments:

Sclerotherapy
Cost: Around £350-£400 a leg
This procedure is most commonly used for early varicose veins or thread veins and it involves chemicals, called sclerosants, being injected into the veins to destroy their lining. As a result, the vein shrivels up and closes permanently so no blood will flow through it. 'The procedure takes about half an hour, then you have to wear pads and bandages for about four-six weeks,' says Chant. He also remarks that 'the injections can sometimes cause staining of the skin,' which can cause skin to go slightly brown and looked bruised. However, discolouration usually disappears in a few weeks and is rarely permanent.

Vein removal
Cost: Around £1,500 a leg
This is the treatment most people opt for. If you have leaky valves in the groin area and behind the knee, or if you have large veins in the thigh and back of the leg, you can have surgery to completely remove the vein from ankle to groin, which will be done under a general anaesthetic. According to Consultant Vascular Surgeon John Scurr from University College and Middlesex hospitals, 'only small incisions are made and they often heal without scarring. There can be some discomfort after surgery, but most people are back at work in a week, while some return to work after two days.'

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