Vascular surgery

At Ross Hall Hospital, we offer a range of private varicose vein, reticular vein and thread vein treatments for patients wishing to reduce discomfort or improve their appearance.

The majority of private varicose vein treatments carried out at our hospital are minimally invasive and are performed under local anaesthetic. This helps to improve patient comfort and reduce recovery time, allowing patients to return to work and normal activities as quickly as possible.

Ross Hall Hospital treats large numbers of varicose vein patients a year and is consequently revered for providing expert and outstanding results and a smooth and enjoyable patient experience. The hospital has amassed a strong local reputation as the go-to place for varicose vein treatment in the West of Scotland.

The varicose vein service is supported by cutting-edge technology, modern facilities and the highest standard of comfort and cleanliness available, ensuring a seamless patient experience.

If you’re thinking about getting treatment for your veins, you can book your initial appointment at Ross Hall Hospital today.

Affecting around a third of the population, varicose veins are experienced by adults of all ages and are increasingly more common with age. Usually, patients want to get their varicose veins treated to relieve symptoms of pain, itching, etc or cosmetic reasons as they don’t want them on show when wearing shorter clothing in warmer weather. Other reasons for treatment include varicose eczema and skin ulceration.

For the majority of people, varicose veins are physically harmless. While the above symptoms can be annoying, often, there are no symptoms at all. However, as they become more widespread, they can result in long-term damage to the skin, especially around the ankle.

Types of varicose veins:

• Reticular veins - these are often blue, and appear in the deeper layers of the skin. They are usually less than 4 mm wide and are commonly found in women behind the knees.
  
  
• Trunk varicose veins - these are the commonest and largest type of varicose veins and affect the main superficial veins which are known as the long and short saphenous veins. They are lumpy and are normally over 4mm wide and even up to 2cm.
  
  
• Spider veins - These are also known as hyphen webs veins, thread veins, and telangiectasias and appear on the surface of the skin less than 1mm wide.

If you are suffering from varicose veins, your vascular surgeon will be able to discuss the various investigative diagnostics required for a fast and accurate diagnosis. We routinely conduct further investigations on patients experiencing the above, utilising a duplex ultrasound scan.

You can be referred to a vascular surgeon by your GP or another specialist within the hospital. Very commonly, patients will opt to self-refer to see a vascular surgeon at Ross Hall Hospital via the enquiries team or by booking directly via the website.

If patients want to use their medical insurance, they should check with their insurer as not all providers cover varicose vein treatment. In particular, thread and spider veins will usually not be covered as they are usually treated for cosmetic reasons only.

When you arrive at the hospital, you will be welcomed by our reception team who will take your details and guide you to the outpatient waiting area. Your consultant will come out to greet you and take you to the consulting room. During the initial consultation, your consultant will take a medical history before performing a physical examination in order to get a clear picture of the situation, your concerns, and to determine the appropriate next steps. If you’d like a chaperone at any point, please ask your consultant or a member of the team.

In the vast majority of cases, the consultant performs a duplex ultrasound during the consultation. This is a common, non-invasive examination of your veins, helping your vascular surgeon to make an accurate diagnosis and outline a tailored treatment plan. This scan will be completed with a chaperone present (usually one of the outpatient nursing staff).

The results are immediate and you can discuss the next steps with your consultant. If you agree with your consultant that you’d like a varicose veins procedure, they will discuss the various options with you and outline the pros and cons of each treatment. 

You will also be able to agree upon a date for your surgery, offered at a time and day that suits you.

The recommended treatment will depend on the size of your veins, your symptoms and your treatment goals. For example, if you have very large varicose veins, it might only be possible to treat them with surgery.

There are various types of varicose vein treatment available at Ross Hall Hospital:

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) - Usually taking under an hour to complete, this minimally invasive surgery involves inserting a very small catheter into your lower leg via a small puncture, heating the varicose vein and causing it to contract and close. This can be done as either a local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic procedure and is always performed in an operating theatre.
  
  
• Surgical removal of varicose veins - Usually offered to patients who are not suitable for minimally invasive treatments such as RFA or sclerotherapy.
  
  
• Thread vein (Sclerotherapy) - The surgeon will use a sequence of small injections into the affected veins to cause them to close off.
  
  
• Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy (UGFS) -  This procedure is usually done in outpatients.

Almost all patients will undergo vein treatment as either an outpatient or day case. This means you can go home the same day as your treatment. If your procedure is carried out in theatre, you’ll be offered a comfortable, private room for both before and after your treatment.

There is a reason for the excellent reputation Ross Hall Hospital has for treating varicose veins. The team will strive to make sure your time at our hospital is as comfortable as possible, ensuring you receive a timely diagnosis and comprehensive, bespoke vascular treatment.

The leading vascular specialists at Ross Hall Hospital are supported by cutting-edge facilities and a modern, welcoming environment, allowing them to consistently provide outstanding patient care.

For the various types of vascular conditions and varicose veins, the service offers  advanced minimally-invasive surgical procedures to ensure a fast and effective recovery.

We welcome large numbers of patients for varicose vein treatment every year as our strong reputation for seamless, welcoming and comprehensive vascular care continues to grow.

We are proud to be considered the go-to place for vein treatment in the West of Scotland and are constantly striving to exceed patients expectations with streamlined diagnostics and fast, effective treatment.

Give us a call or book online today.