Varicose Vein Clinic

About varicose veins

Varicose vein disease is common among adults, with 10% of women and men being affected significantly. The underlying cause is malfunction of interior valves in blood vessels of the leg’s superficial veins. As the vein walls stretch, the vessels lying just beneath the skin become highly visible, taking on a characteristic thick, bluish-purple appearance.

Besides the unwanted cosmetic appearance, varicose veins can give rise to a variety of symptoms, ranging from intermittent ache or throbbing discomfort to itching and more severe pain. A proportion of patients left untreated will go on to develop brown discolouration of the skin, especially around the ankles, which can be the forerunner of venous ulceration.

The Varicose Vein Clinic

This clinic is designed to offer fast access to a consultant vascular surgeon and to identify varicose veins and a treatment journey that best suits the clinical needs of individual patients.

If you would like to see a consultant vascular surgeon about private varicose or thread vein treatment, ask your GP for a referral to Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh.  

Prior to undergoing treatment, patients are assessed clinically by a consultant vascular surgeon. After examination in the out-patient clinic, patients are further assessed with a special kind of ultrasound scan. This identifies which veins are involved, confirms normal function of the leg’s deep veins, and indicates the most appropriate form of treatment.

For more information about the Varicose Vein Clinic or to make an appointment please contact Customer Services on 0131 316 2507 or make an online enquiry.  

Treatment options

Modern treatment
Nowadays, we are able to offer less invasive means of achieving the same result. 

VNUS Closure®
The VNUS Closure® procedure provides a modern solution to leg pain caused by varicose veins. It treats venous reflux disease in the "superficial venous system", often the underlying cause of painful varicose veins. Instead of removing the vein trunks surgically, it is possible to use a laser passed up the inside of the vein to block it completely and permanently, this is called VNUS laser ablation, shown by the following illustration.

Usually the varicose veins are removed at the same time through tiny 1-2mm incisions using a special hook. The advantages of this new technique are that no surgical wound is required at the top of the leg and patients experience less post-operative pain. The results over time are very similar to traditional surgery and the cosmetic outcome is excellent.

Traditional treatment
Traditionally, most patients would be offered an operation designed to remove the main vein trunks involved as well as dealing with the varicose veins themselves. This is a highly effective treatment but involves anaesthesia and can cause some pain, delaying patients’ return to normal activities.

Spire Murrayfield Hospital is the only private hospital in the south-east of Scotland where varicose vein disease can be managed in this comprehensive way. No two patients with venous disease are alike. Recognising this, our vascular surgeons formulate a treatment plan unique to the individual. Clinical expertise and experience and the highest quality vascular imaging allows us to offer excellent care and treatment.

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