Varicose veins are veins that are no longer working effectively. Healthy veins transport blood back to the heart. Blood should only flow in one direction through veins, assisted by valves. When these valves fail, blood travels back down the veins, stretching them, making them become enlarged and twisted.

Varicose veins appear under the skin as bulging bluish-green lines. Aside from their physical appearance, many people have symptoms from varicose veins. This can be swelling, aching, heaviness, itching, pain, fatigue, or skin discolouration and even ulceration.

Symptoms are typically worse at the end of the day, and after prolonged standing or sitting. Symptoms will not improve without treatment and can worsen with time, possibly leading to ulcers.

There are two main types of treatment available for varicose veins. The gold standard world-wide is “endovenous ablation” which involves sealing the leaking veins closed. This is done by using a combination of heat and / or chemical energy. The heat energy is delivered by either electricity (radiofrequency) or laser energy and the chemical works by scarring the vein closed (sclerotherapy). The combination of heat and chemicals is normally used over the course of 1 to 3 treatment sessions.

The other method of treating varicose veins is to physically remove them from the leg by “open surgery” often also called “stripping”, “ligation” or “avulsions”. This method is rarely needed. It requires a general anaesthetic.