Varicose vein treatment

Approx costs I can't help with as I got mine done on the NHS. I explained to my doctor that I feared the tiny veins showing near my ankle may possibly cause ulcers at some point (this had been explained to mine by a French surgeon I happened to meet on holiday) and the doc agreed this was reason enough to consider treatment. My consultant agreed with this but also explained that laser treatment may well be less invasive although he also said this was not without it's risks. I read a little about the foam method (essentially filling the veins with foam then tightly bandaging the leg to cause the veins to collapse at which point the foam sticks the side walls of the veins together - you thus end up with flat veins which do not bulge through the skin). I decided to go with the removal, or sometimes called stripping, of the veins. It was a simple day case. I attended the treatement centre at 8am and had the op under a general anisthetic at around 10am. My wife then collected me at around 3pm. I have had no more than slight discomfort with no pain to speak of which has surprised me! A huge bandage from my foot to groin area. Due at the docotor's surgery on Monday for the dressingsto be changed and then have to wear compression stocking during the day for a further three weeks. Not sure if this is much help!

I have had both the removal (stripping) - which I had done first and then laser treatment more recently. I developed v.veins when I was 16 and was told that if I had them removed so early it was possible they would come back. I had the operation when I was 19 and by the time I was 26 they had come back in the same leg but a diff part. The doc said the faulty valve hadnt been sorted properly the first time and so it had redirected somewhere else and thats why I was having the same issue in a new part of my leg. I then opted from laser as he said it was less intrusive and although it had some risks they were smaller than with the surgery. I found both methods have worked however I couldn't tell you the long term results for laser as it was only 6 months ago. I am hopeful that they won't return now though. Both on NHS. I had to fight them for it but if you persist and put a good case forward often they give in!!