Varicose vein treatment at Spire Parkway Hospital

Spire Parkway Hospital is an established local private hospital providing comprehensive treatments and care to our patients in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

We offer treatment for varicose veins if they’re causing pain or complications, or if you’d like them treated for cosmetic reasons.

You can expect fast access to a consultant of your choice, in our clean, modern facilities. Your consultant will recommend a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to your needs.

Your consultant will assess the condition of your varicose veins, your general health and your intended outcome in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

Our consultants offer a variety of treatments for varicose veins.

The following procedures all use ultrasound imaging to guide your consultant when positioning the injection or catheter (a thin tube through which smaller instruments can be inserted):

• Radiofrequency ablation (eg Venefit®, also called VNUS closure) – a probe inside a catheter is inserted into the affected vein and uses radiofrequency energy to heat and seal the vein
• Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (USGFS) – a special foam is injected into the affected vein which blocks it
• ClariVein® – a catheter is inserted into your vein and the end rotates and releases a chemical which seals the vein
• VenaSeal™ closure system – a catheter is inserted into the affected vein and a special glue is released at regular intervals down the vein to seal it closed

We also offer:

• Hook phlebectomy or microphlebectomy – small incisions are made close to the vein and a hook-shaped instrument is used to remove the affected veins through the incisions
• Transilluminated powered phlebectomy – a special light is used under your skin to see the affected veins which are then cut and removed by suction
• Ligation and stripping – a surgical procedure to remove the veins

Your consultant will explain the potential benefits and complications of each procedure before you decide to go ahead.

Coming into hospital

Spire Parkway Hospital is situated a few miles south of Birmingham city centre in Solihull, the hospital is near to both Birmingham International and Solihull train stations. There’s free parking available for you and your visitors.

Meeting your consultant

Your appointment will take place in one of our consultation rooms. Your consultant will discuss:

• Your symptoms or reasons for wanting treatment
• Your general health and medical history
• If they recommend any additional tests or scans to help plan your treatment
• Your treatment and recovery plan
• What the treatment involves, along with potential benefits and risks
• The anaesthetic you’ll require

You may also need a pre-operative assessment before going ahead with treatment. This is to ensure you're fit and well enough for surgery.

When you arrive at hospital, your consultant and a nurse will get you ready for your treatment. Subject to which procedure and anaesthetic you’re having, it will take place in an operating theatre or a private treatment room.

Treatment usually takes between half an hour to an hour. However, it may take longer if you’re having both legs or many veins treated.

Anaesthetic

So that you won’t feel any pain during the procedure, you’ll have either:

• A general anaesthetic – where you’ll be asleep
• A local anaesthetic – so the area being treated will be numb

For ligation and stripping, which is a surgical procedure to treat varicose veins, you’ll probably have general anaesthetic. All other treatments are usually performed using local anaesthetic.

After your treatment

Once your consultant has finished, you’ll be able to relax in a ward until you’re ready to go home – usually about three hours after your procedure.

If you’ve had general anaesthetic, you may need to stay overnight. If you do, you’ll stay in one of our private, en-suite rooms which have:

• TV
• En-suite
• Window
• Armchair
• Free WiFi

Most people can resume normal activities immediately after varicose vein surgery. For ligation and stripping, you may need to rest and take some time off work before gently returning back to your normal routine.

Your consultant may advise that you wear compression stockings for up to a week.

You’ll return to the hospital for a check-up appointment 10 to 14 days later, so we can ensure that you’re healing as expected and your veins have improved.

Although everyone’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline: