Varicose veins are a common problem. As well as being a cosmetic concern, they can cause a variety of troublesome symptoms.
Our varicose vein treatments include:
Foam sclerotherapy
Endovenous ablation
Both procedures can be done as outpatient procedures under local anaesthetic
Duration: up to 1 hour Cost: Foam Sclerotherapy from £550, Endovenous ablation from £1950
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Varicose veins are enlarged veins that have dilated and twisted beneath the skin. Most commonly, varicose veins are found on your legs as this is where your veins experience the most pressure.
Sometimes varicose veins are simply a cosmetic problem. However, they can cause discomfort and potentially lead to other associated conditions, including varicose eczema and varicose ulcers.
Before undergoing varicose vein treatment, our dedicated team will carry out a thorough consultation with you and use ultrasound scanning to find the right treatment for your needs.
At Belfast Skin Clinic, we offer a range of varicose vein treatments to provide you with relief from symptoms and cosmetic concerns. The procedures are undertaken as an outpatient and are performed using local anaesthetic.
Sclerotherapy is an injection of a sclerosant into the varicose vein. The sclerosant is a special foam which irritates the lining of the vein, causing inflammation that leads to the closing of the vein. Ultimately this leads to the vein shrinking and disappearing over time. You may require treatment more than once.
Most people return to their regular activities on the same day.
In the following weeks after treatment, your veins may feel more pronounced or slightly itchy. This is a common side effect and should go away with time.
Endovenous ablation is a minimally invasive procedure. Endovenous ablation uses radiofrequency or laser energy to destroy varicose veins. This treatment is considered safer and less invasive than traditional open surgery, causing minimal to no scarring.
First, your surgeon will carry out an ultrasound scan to visualise the varicose vein. The vein is accessed through a small cut in the skin, through which a narrow probe is passed into the vein. The probe delivers laser energy or radiofrequency energy to the vein which heats it and forces it to close. After the treatment is completed, the vein will shrink, break down and be absorbed.
Recovering from varicose vein treatments is relatively simple and should not take long. You should be able to resume normal activities on the same day.
You must follow any aftercare guidance provided by your varicose specialist to support your recovery and enhance your results.
If you want to know more about varicose vein treatments, we’ve added a list of our most frequently asked questions below.
Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body and veins carry it back to the heart, circulating your blood. Carrying blood back to your heart is tough for your veins as they have to work against gravity. Valves in veins help the blood return to the heart.
As you get older, your veins can lose elasticity and the valves can become floppy and less effective, so blood pools in the veins. This can then lead to the stretching and weakening of the veins, causing them to enlarge and become varicose.
Pregnancy can cause varicose veins due to increased pressure from the uterus on the pelvic veins. Hormonal changes also affect the elasticity of the veins. While some women may develop varicose veins for the first time during pregnancy, if you have them prior to pregnancy, it could worsen any already enlarged veins in your legs.
Varicose veins caused by pregnancy often resolve without treatment.
Some people can be more at risk for varicose veins. For example, the main risk factors associated with varicose veins include:
While some of these factors are changeable, other factors, like ageing or family history, you have no control over.
The cost of varicose vein treatment will vary depending on the type of treatment you get and the number of sessions you need. For full varicose vein treatment pricing, get in touch with our team and we would be more than happy to provide you with all the information you need.
At Belfast Skin Clinic, we’re dedicated to providing you with access to highly skilled consultants who are recognised experts in their specialities. Our experienced medical team (made up of consultant dermatologists, plastic surgeons, vascular surgeons, and rheumatologists) use the latest technology (where appropriate) to provide you with an accurate diagnosis to ensure you receive the right treatment for your needs. They are aided by our dedicated team of nurses. Our aesthetic team of practitioners complement medical and surgical services so we can offer treatment for every skin concern.
We welcome all patients, both self-funded and privately insured, as well as patients from the Republic of Ireland using the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS)
