Varicose-veins-removal-treatments-the-private-clinic-vs-the-nhs
More actions
Over 40 years of expert care
Best UK Group & 5 star reviews
Established Clinics
Award winning treatment plans
Over 40 years of expert care
Best UK Group & 5 star reviews
Nationwide Clinics
Award treatment plans
Vein Removal Treatments: The Private Clinic vs. the NHS
VARICOSE VEINS
The Daily Express recently wrote about a man (Rob Crowley, 35) who had undergone a ‘MIRACLE’ treatment for his Varicose Veins after having had an surgical procedure with the NHS.
The headlining treatment in question was the which was performed at our Birmingham clinic. The effectively raises three major points. First, that the EVLA treatment was far more effective at treating varicose veins than a surgical procedure. Second, the article highlights that patients aren’t aware of endovenous treatments, and finally, that the NHS has an outdated approach to the .
So, let’s tackle the latter two issues and start by demystifying the condition and its EVLA treatment.
The vascular network serves to distribute oxygen to tissues within our bodies through blood that circulates in a specific direction. The flow is regulated thanks to valves, which stop the blood from backtracking on itself and causing congestion. When these valves weaken, or fail to function properly and the vein’s walls stretch, blood can accumulate and cause the vein to swell.
by their blue and purple colours, which draw all the more attention to the convoluted, raised patterns that they follow. The condition is often hereditary and is seen in women more often than in men. Hormonal changes such as those experienced during , as can pressure on your lower body – be it because of your occupation or your weight.
An EVLA procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and involves a slim laser-tipped fibre, being inserted a catheter and along a vein until it reaches the edge of a Varicose Vein. Once there, the laser’s heat collapses the vein’s walls and keeps doing so along its length as your surgeon guides it back out.
During an EVLA procedure for Varicose Veins at The Private Clinic.
This treatment falls short of being a miracle, https://trustedpeptides.co.uk, but according to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), it certainly represents the Gold standard for the treatment of Varicose Veins thanks to its 95.4% success and non-recurrence rate (after five years). Although NICE designated in 2013, it is a procedure that has been around for 15 years and arguably doesn’t warrant being presented as a novelty. At The Private Clinic, we also offer Radiofrequency Ablation, VenaSeal, Foam Sclerotherapy and Phlebectomy treatments meaning our expert surgeons can pick the best treatment, or combination of treatments to suit you.
Patients’ lack of awareness of its availability is partly due to the NHS, as the institution doesn’t commonly offer EVLA, with GPs rarely suggesting the private sector.
The most significant difference between The Private Clinic’s approach and that of the NHS is that we treat the source of the problem first, whereas the NHS focuses on the symptoms. The with such a tactic is that patients suffer for longer periods, during which the condition can worsen and develop into something far more serious.
With the NHS, the treatment options available to you are decided by the severity of your symptoms. So, if you have big unsightly veins, but they aren’t painful or causing you too much discomfort, then your symptoms will be considered .
Rob Crowley’s leg before and after EVLA treatment for Varicose Veins at The Private Clinic, Birmingham.
If, on the other hand, you are experiencing pain and discomfort, then you may be eligible for treatment, but your practitioner might recommend as much as six months of self-care first. This would include regular exercise, using compression stockings, and resting often while elevating the affected area. After this period, you’re most likely to be treated by surgical stripping, Sclerotherapy, or endovenous radiofrequency obliteration.
The challenge of treating Varicose Veins lies in their nature, and research shows that chances of recurrence after treatment are higher for recurrent Varicose Veins than for primary ones. This means that it’s best to eliminate them the first time.
Our ‘miracle’ patient . He was eligible for a procedure, but those have a two-year recurrence rate of 33%, going up to 41% for five years and rising to 70% for ten years, and it’s still the most widely offered Varicose Vein treatment on the NHS (Health Technol Assess, 2013). Rob’s veins did indeed come back, and they were more painful and unsightly than ever. Furthermore, he was refused additional treatment.