Varicose vein treatment at Spire Bushey Hospital

Spire Bushey is one of north London and Hertfordshire’s leading private hospitals and we take pride in delivering high-quality care.

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.

We offer:

• Radiofrequency ablation (VNUS closure) – a probe inside a catheter is inserted into the affected vein and uses radiofrequency energy to heat and seal the vein
• 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
• Ligation and stripping (surgical removal) – surgery to tie off and remove the affected veins, usually done under a general anaesthetic with discharge the same day (however, if both legs are being treated, you’ll need to stay in your hospital overnight)
• Endovenous laser – one of the most common procedures used, a laser inserted by a catheter heats up the vein and seals it closed and an ultrasound scan guides the laser to the correct position (usually conducted under local anaesthetic)

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

Getting here

Spire Bushey Hospital and Spire Bushey Diagnostic Centre are situated within easy access to the M1/M25 motorways, underground and overground train stations. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

Your initial consultation will take place at Spire Bushey Diagnostic Centre located in Elstree, less than two minutes from the main hospital site, which offers the latest facilities and diagnostics. Your consultant will discuss with you:

• 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 prepare you for 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 a few hours after your procedure. You’ll be taken to relax in a private room before going home when you’re ready.

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: