Varicose vein treatment at Spire Thames Valley Hospital

At Spire Thames Valley Hospital, we take pride in providing a high standard of private hospital care to our patients in the Thames Valley, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Windsor areas.

If varicose veins are causing you pain or complications, or you’d like them removed for cosmetic reasons, we have a choice of consultants who can provide a treatment that’s personalised to your needs.

We offer fast access to consultations and treatments, in a clean, comfortable environment.

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
• Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) – a tiny laser inside a catheter is inserted into the affected vein which emits bursts of energy to heat and seal the vein

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.

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

Getting here

We're only a 10 minute drive from both the M4 and M40 motorways and we’re less than half an hour from central London by train. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

You’ll meet your chosen consultant in one of our private consultation rooms. They’ll discuss:

• The reasons why you’d like treatment
• Your medical history
• Which treatment will be best for you
• How the procedure will be performed and what anaesthetic you’ll need
• The potential benefits and risks

Your consultant may need you to have additional tests or scans before they can recommend the next steps.

You may also need a pre-operative assessment to check your fitness and overall health before the procedure.

On the day

One of our nurses and your consultant will meet you on arrival and get you prepared for your treatment. You’ll then be taken to an operating theatre.

The procedure will take between 30 minutes to an hour but may be longer if you’re having a lot of veins and/or both legs treated.

Anaesthetic

The anaesthetic required varies depending on the procedure you’re having and your overall health. Most procedures are performed using local anaesthetic (so the area being treated will be numb). However, sometimes it may be necessary to have a general anaesthetic, for instance it’s often needed for ligation and stripping which is a surgical procedure for treating varicose veins.

After treatment

Usually, you can go home at least six hours after your procedure. You’ll be taken to relax in a private room before going home when you’re ready.

However, you may require an overnight stay, particularly if you’ve had a general anaesthetic. If so, you’ll have your own en-suite room which will have:

• A TV
• A window
• An armchair
• An en-suite bathroom with towels
• A lockable bedside table

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 one week 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: