Varicose vein treatment at Spire Alexandra Hospital

At Spire Alexandra Hospital, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments to patients in Medway and the surrounding areas of Kent and the South East. Our private hospital has two extensively equipped operating theatres, backed up by an extended recovery unit with 24 hour support.

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.

We offer a variety of treatments for varicose veins. Treatment choices available to you will depend on the type of varicose veins you have, what you’d like to achieve and your general health. Your consultant will discuss which treatment is best for you at your initial appointment.

We offer:

• 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 (your consultant will use ultrasound imaging to guide the catheter)
• 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 – a surgical procedure to remove the veins

Every treatment has its own benefits and risks which your consultant will explain to you during your consultation.

Getting here

You'll find us approximately eight miles from Maidstone and five miles from Chatham. The nearest railway station is Chatham, a 10 minute taxi journey away. 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

Once you arrive for your treatment, you’ll meet your consultant again who’ll work with our nurses to get you ready for your procedure. You’ll then be taken to an operating theatre.

The time taken for each procedure ranges from half an hour to an hour or longer if you’re having more veins treated.

Anaesthetic

Most procedures can be performed under local anaesthetic, meaning you won’t be able to feel anything in the area being treated. Alternatively, you may have a general anaesthetic (eg usually for surgical ligation and stripping) where you’ll be completely asleep.

After your procedure

You can usually go home around four hours after your treatment. It may be longer for general anaesthetic and if you’ve had more veins and/or both legs treated. You’ll be able to relax in a private room until you’re ready to leave.

Occasionally, you may need an overnight stay. If so, you’ll have one of our private, en-suite rooms. All of our rooms have:

• TV
• En-suite bathroom
• Window
• Armchair
• Wardrobe

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 two to four weeks 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: