Varicose vein treatment at Spire Portsmouth Hospital

Spire Portsmouth Hospital is an established local private hospital providing comprehensive treatments and care to our patients in Hampshire.

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 recommend a treatment based on the type of varicose veins you have, your general health and your desired outcome.

We have a range of treatments available. All have their own potential benefits and risks which your consultant will discuss with you.

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):

• 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
• Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (USGFS) – a special foam is injected into the affected vein which blocks it

We also offer ligation and stripping – a surgical procedure to remove the veins.

Vein Away treatment

The Vein Away system is used for the treatment of thread veins, spider veins and skin tags on the face and body. 

During Vein Away treatment, the consultant uses a very fine needle to target the veins. The needle doesn’t pierce the skin and ultra-fast radio frequency is used to send a pulse along the needle. You may feel a mild prickly sensation and experience some redness after treatment which should soon settle.

The procedure typically takes 15 minutes following an initial consultation.

Getting here

Spire Portsmouth Hospital is located on the West Sussex/Hampshire border in Havant, just off the B2148 Rowlands Castle to Emsworth Road. We're a 20 minute drive from Chichester or Fareham. 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, day surgery theatre or a consulting room.

Where you’ll be treated depends on what treatment you’re having and what kind of anaesthetic you’ll need.

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 a few hours after your procedure. You’ll be taken to relax in a private room (unless surgery was performed in a consulting 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:

• TV with Freeview
• Garden view
• Armchair
• Wardrobe

You can usually get back to your normal routine straight away after your treatment. However, if you’ve had ligation and stripping, or more veins treated, you may need to take a few days off work and rest. Your consultant may recommend compression stockings which can help improve blood flow while your body heals.

After two weeks, you’ll return to the hospital for a follow-up appointment so we can check that you’re recovering well and the treatment has worked.

Your recovery will be personal to you and you should always take your consultant’s advice. Here’s a typical recovery timeline as a guide: