Nationwide Surgical Centres

If not suitable for EVLA what can I do?

You have a number of options:

1. Do Nothing
2. Support Stockings
   Wear appropriately prescribed support stockings for which your legs should be measured. Although this will not get rid of your varicose veins symptoms such as aching, swelling or itching are usually helped by Class II support stockings. These can only be obtained on prescription.
3. Injection Sclerotherapy or Foam Sclerotherapy
   Injection treatment is a method for closing off varicose veins by injecting a chemical substance into the vein which causes their walls to glue together so that they close off and shrivel up. This treatment has been available for many years but was associated with a high risk of further varicose veins. This type of treatment might also be complicated by persistent discolouration (pigmentation) of the leg. More recently modifications to the method of treatment have led to the development of foam sclerotherapy which is more successful than traditional injection treatment. The results for foam sclerotherapy suggest that up to 20% of patients will develop further varicose veins within 2 years of treatment. Nevertheless, because it avoids an operation, and can usually be repeated if necessary it may be useful for patients who are unsuitable for EVLA but do not want surgery.
4. Surgical Treatment

If your varicose veins are not suitable for EVLA then surgery remains an option that is open to you. Further information about this is included in the leaflet "INFORMATION ABOUT VARICOSE VEINS" which you can download here.