Up to a third of people in the UK suffer from the pain and discomfort of varicose veins. But now a new Hampshire clinic is offering a way to treat them without surgery
A nationwide network of clinics that offers state of the art, affordable treatment for people suffering with varicose veins has opened its newest premises in Southampton.
Veincentre was founded in 2003 by former NHS consultant Dr David West. It specialises in non-surgical, minimal invasive treatment of varicose veins, which affect 15 million people of all ages in the UK and are often uncomfortable, painful and unsightly,
Varicose veins are caused by failure of the small valves in the veins that normally ensure blood flows in only one direction, from the heart to the feet. Mostly found on the legs and feet, these swollen and enlarged veins are often lumpy, bulging and may be blue or dark purple. Varicose veins can be hereditary and it’s believed that women, older people and those who are overweight are more likely to develop them. Pregnancy can also increase the risk.
Traditional surgery consists of pulling the vein out of the body, or ‘stripping out the vein’ which, is not only painful, but also requires general anaesthetic, and has a higher chance of complications and a high recurrence rate.
Instead, Dr West and his colleagues provide — among other minimal invasive treatment options — Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA), which works by finding the source of the affected vein and killing off the cause – meaning that the treatment is more likely to be effective and long-lasting. In most cases, recovery is quick and most patients find that they can return to normal day to day activities almost immediately. Many even have their veins treated during their lunch hour.
“We treat people from the age of 18 upwards and old age is no reason not to have this treatment” says Dr West. “One of our recent patients was a 90-year old lady who wanted to walk her dog, go to the shops and just do normal, everyday things. She was finding it increasingly difficult because of her varicose veins. She had this treatment and was absolutely delighted.”
Veincentre has expanded to seven clinics nationwide, including the latest located at 62, The Avenue, Southampton. Its experts have undertaken 30,000 procedures and won the Patients’ Choice Award 5 STAR on numerous occasions.
Dr West’s intention has always been to provide cost-effective treatment for patients with varicose veins, as well as providing medical care with the best results.
Veincentre is transparent with its costs and has fixed prices when it comes to the four stages of treatment. An initial consultation costs £250 with treatment costs at £1,695 for one leg, or £1,995 for both. Costs are kept down by running the business efficiently and eliminating as much waste as possible without compromising on quality and outcomes.
According to a report published by Private Healthcare UK, Veincentre was named as the most competitively priced clinic in the UK for varicose vein removal treatment in 2017. It has clinics in Southampton, Bristol, Stoke-on-Trent, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Oxfordshire. For more information call 01782 753960 or visit veincentre.com.
