Affordable Varicose Vein Treatment in Private Clinic Abroad. Varicose veins are veins under the skin of the legs, which have become widened, bulging, and twisted. The treatment abroad is much cheaper. They are very common and do not cause medical problems in most people. There are two main systems of veins in the legs:
Deep veins. The leg muscles squeeze the deep veins during walking, carrying most of the blood back up the legs to the heart.
Superficial veins. These occur under the skin which is less important and can form varicose veins. All of these veins contain one-way valves to ensure that the blood flows towards the heart. Failure of these valves allows blood to flow back down the veins and results in an overload of pressure when standing. This excess pressure leads to widening of the veins so that they do not close properly. Blood then flows back into the leg along these veins and causes varicose to develop. Raised pressure in these veins also encourages the development of spider veins and discoloured areas which look like bruises. Varicose and spider veins often run in families and there may be a hereditary component. Women are more likely to suffer from varicose veins and up to 50% of women may be affected. Hormonal factors including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, the use of birth control pills, and HRT affect the disease.
Pregnancy and Varicose veins
It is very common for pregnant women to develop varicose during the first trimester. Pregnancy causes increases in hormone levels and blood volume which in turn cause veins to enlarge. In addition, the enlarged uterus causes increased pressure on the veins. Varicose due to pregnancy often improve within 3 months after delivery. However, with successive pregnancies, abnormal veins are more likely to remain.
Other predisposing factors include ageing, standing for long periods of time, obesity and leg injury.
Many people have no symptoms at all from their varicose, except for the fact that they are noticeable and their appearance can be embarrassing. Other than cosmetic embarrassment, the most common symptoms of varicose veins are aching, discomfort and heaviness of the legs, which are usually worse at the end of the day. Sometimes the ankle can swell, too. These symptoms are not medically serious but can be treated if they are sufficiently troublesome.
Savings for varicose veins treatment abroad
The actual cost savings you can make by having varicose treatment abroad will vary depending on the procedure you want and the country you want to go to. Many popular treatment destinations abroad offer savings of 50- 80% compared to the cost of private varicose veins treatment in the UK. Prices for varicose veins treatment in the UK are very high, plus there is a long waiting list for a specialist. In comparison with treatment conditions, vein specialists abroad offer varicose veins treatment at a very attractive price. Prices for varicose veins are extremely good value if foreign patients are also attracted by the modern varicose veins treatment equipment in the clinic and the latest technologies. Also, your treatment date depends on you. These are not the only reasons why every year, more and more British people choose to get cheap varicose veins treatment abroad.
Although varicose veins can get worse over the years, this often happens very slowly. In a few people, the high pressure in the veins causes damage to the skin near the ankle, which can become brown in colour, sometimes with scarred white areas. Eczema (a red skin rash) can develop. If these skin changes are allowed to progress, or if the skin is injured, an ulcer may develop. Skin changes are therefore a good reason for going to see your GP and for a referral to a specialist. In many areas, there are special leg ulcer bandaging clinics, supervised by the skin specialists and run by specially trained nurses. Your GP may refer you there, rather than to a surgeon in the first instance.
Problems which varicose veins can occasionally produce:
- Phlebitis (sometimes called thrombophlebitis): inflammation of the veins, and is often accompanied by some thrombosis (clotting of blood) inside the affected veins, which become hard and tender. This is not the same as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is not usually dangerous. It does not mean that the varicose veins necessarily have to be treated.
- Bleeding: The risk of bleeding as a result of knocking varicose veins worries many people, but this is very rare. It will always stop with firm pressure and the veins can then be treated to remove the risk of further bleeding.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis is associated with DVT in some patients. It is not clear whether veins themselves increase the risk of DVT, but certainly, DVT leads to varicose veins and skin damage around the ankle. If you feel that your varicose veins are presenting any of these symptoms, you should ask for a referral to a vascular surgeon.
Cause of varicose veins
Most varicose veins originate from leaking valves at groin level or behind the knee. It is important to accurately locate the site of the valve leaks. At your outpatient appointment, the doctor will use a small probe to assess your veins; this is called continuous wave Doppler. The probe can detect the direction of blood flow which is audible, both in the skin veins and in the deep veins. It indicates where the veins have come from and help in the planning of any operation that might be required. An ultrasound scan (duplex) may be performed instead. This will allow detailed examination of your deep veins particularly if there is a past history of deep vein thrombosis. Veins behind the knee and recurrent varicose will also require duplex scanning. Other scans which are sometimes used include MRI and CT.
Varicose veins treatments available abroad
- The vein operation (available treatment abroad the treatment abroad is much cheaper)
- Endovenous Laser Therapy
- Foam Sclerotherapy
- Radiofrequency ablation
All of the above will require duplex scanning as part of their selection process and the monitoring of the varicose veins treatment abroad itself. Very occasionally, if the scan is not clear, an X-ray of the veins, called a venogram, may be required. This involves the injection of dye (contrast) into a vein in the foot. The contrast can be seen outlining the veins in the calf and thigh and is the best way of detecting previous damage to the deep veins.
Surgery is followed by a recurrence rate (varicose veins returning) of about 1 in 7 over a ten year period. This recurrence may be due to poorly planned or performed surgery, new vein formation, or due to new valve leaks beginning elsewhere. There is a small risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after surgery which can be reduced by wearing compression stockings and remaining mobile after the operation. Simple measures such as wearing support stockings will control the symptoms for many people. Stockings may help to prevent progression or enlargement of varicose veins. If you are overweight you should try and lose weight. Stockings are effective in controlling symptoms and preventing skin complications. They are only effective if worn regularly, but can reliably avoid the need for surgery in the majority of patients. If you do get the varicose veins treatment abroad it costs less than in the UK the NHS waiting list is long whereas you can skip it to then go and get the treatment abroad done privately.
Varicose vein treatment can be covered by the NHS and can be refunded if vein treatment is received in a private clinic abroad. Vein treatment abroad could be an alternative you can afford.
It is possible to receive vein pre-treatment and after treatment consultation in London.
You can receive classic vein surgeries as per the Varady method (mini phlebectomy) as well as laser surgeries, and other endovenous treatment methods, using radiofrequency surgery (EVLT and RFO), steam micro impulses, and bio glue. Bioglue is the newest method in the market and is the least invasive, so you EVLT and RFO, and the recovery process is much shorter.
