Varicose vein treatment at Spire Liverpool Hospital

At Spire Liverpool Hospital, we pride ourselves on our long-standing reputation as a private hospital that provides high standards of patient care.

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 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.

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):

• 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
• 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:

• 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

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

Finding us

We're only a 15 minute car journey from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The hospital is approximately four miles from Liverpool Lime Street station in the city centre. We have free parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

Your initial consultation will be in one of our private consultation rooms. During your appointment, your consultant will ask questions about:

• Your reasons for wanting or needing treatment, such as symptoms or aesthetics
• Your health and medical history
• What you’d like to achieve through treatment

Your consultant will also explain:

• If you need to have further tests and scans to assess your condition
• Which treatment is best for you and what it involves
• The anaesthetic you’ll need and your expected recovery timeline

Before proceeding with your treatment, you may need to have a pre-operative assessment. This is to check your overall health and fitness before having surgery.

When you arrive at hospital, your consultant and a nurse will get you ready for your treatment. Subject to which procedure and anaesthetic you’re having, it will take place in an operating theatre or a private treatment room.

Treatment usually takes between half an hour to an hour. However, it may take longer if you’re having both legs or many veins treated.

Anaesthetic

So that you won’t feel any pain during the procedure, you’ll have either:

• A general anaesthetic – where you’ll be asleep
• A local anaesthetic – so the area being treated will be numb

For ligation and stripping, which is a surgical procedure to treat varicose veins, you’ll probably have general anaesthetic. All other treatments are usually performed using local anaesthetic.

After your treatment

Once your consultant has finished, you’ll be able to relax in a private room until you’re ready to go home – usually one to six hours after your procedure.

If you’ve had general anaesthetic, you may need to stay overnight. If you do, you’ll stay in one of our private, en-suite rooms which have:

• TV
• Window
• Armchair
• En-suite
• Bedside cabinet

After you leave hospital, you may need to take some time off work while you recover. However, most people can carry on with their normal routine without any problems. Your consultant will advise you on what’s best, including whether you should wear compression stockings and for how long.

We’ll arrange a follow-up appointment seven days after your procedure to check that you're recovering as expected and assess how the treatment went.

Here’s a typical recovery timeline, although you should always follow your consultant’s advice and bear in mind that everybody is different: