Get your varicose veins treated before the summer
Warmer, sunnier days are just around the corner, but if you have varicose veins you might also be dreading the prospect of baring your legs. It’s easy to conceal them in the winter with warm trousers and cosy tights but that’s not so easy when the sun is shining and everyone’s in flip flops.
Although varicose veins aren’t always troublesome, they can cause discomfort and some people feel self-conscious exposing their legs. If you are bothered by the appearance of your varicose veins, why not come and find out a bit more about getting them treated? We hold free events every month at our Bexhill and Canterbury clinics where you can meet the doctors and talk to them about the options for treatments.
Varicose veins develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working properly. In a healthy vein, blood flows smoothly to the heart and is prevented from flowing backwards by a series of tiny valves which open and close to let blood through. If these valves weaken or are damaged, the blood can flow backwards and collect in the veins, eventually causing them to swell and bulge through the skin. They are often dark blue or purple in colour, which makes them even more noticeable.
Until relatively recently the most effective treatment involved a fairly major procedure carried out under general anaesthetic in hospital to “strip out” the problem veins. It could take several weeks to recover and patients often reported that the varicose veins came back.
Treatments for varicose veins are now less invasive and much more effective. At Cooden, we use a technique called ELVA, a short procedure which uses a laser to destroy the affected veins from the inside so that the surrounding tissues are not damaged. As the veins are completely destroyed, there is no chance of them reappearing.
Recovering from the treatment doesn’t take long at all – and you will be able to walk out of the door minutes after the treatment is completed. You may find your legs are a bit sore and bruised initially but there is no need to put your feet up for a week – in fact it’s recommended that you do as much walking as you can after your treatment as this seems to help the recovery process.
Varicose vein treatment is not normally available on the NHS as it is considered a cosmetic procedure but most people who choose to undergo treatment feel it’s worthwhile. You can find out more about varicose veins and the options for treatment at our open events. See all the forthcoming events here.
