Flaunt your legs with confidence this summer
Date Posted: 1st July 2018
Mr David Lewis, consultant vascular surgeon at St Joseph’s Hospital
Everyone hopes that summer will be a scorcher. It’s a chance to catch some sun and get your legs out. However, one thing that may stop people from getting their legs out is varicose veins.
Varicose veins are very common, and up to one in three of us will experience them in our lifetime.
They are caused by failure of the valves in the veins that allow one-way blood flow back to the heart from the legs. These poorly-functioning valves allow blood to pool and cause swelling of the veins leading to an unsightly appearance under your skin.
Varicose veins rarely pose any serious risk to your health, although they can bleed or cause ulcers and you may wish to have them removed if they are causing pain that affects everyday life.
It’s worth speaking to your GP if:
- They are causing you pain or discomfort;
- The skin over your veins is sore and irritated;
- The aching in your legs is causing irritation at night and disturbing your sleep.
Some of the symptoms from varicose veins can be improved with support hosiery and using regular moisturiser on your legs. However, if you do need treatment or would like them removed for cosmetic reasons, most varicose veins can be treated successful under local anaesthetic using minimally invasive techniques as a ‘walk-in walk-out’ procedure.
Mr David Lewis says: “Utilising the imaging facilities at St Joseph’s Hospital means that there is no need for patients to return for multiple separate appointments. Doing a duplex ultrasound scan at the same visit as your appointment to see me means that we can discuss and agree the best treatment option to suit your individual needs.”
For more information about treating varicose veins, please contact us.