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Varicose Veins in Feet and Ankles: the causes and best treatments
Varicose veins in the feet and ankles can be very debilitating for sufferers of the condition. Around 1 in 3 adults experience varicose veins at some point in their lives, and the legs are one of the most commonly affected areas. Feet varicose veins make even the easiest activities like walking or standing difficult. Sufferers are not only likely to feel physical side effects like pain and swelling, they are also likely to experience the unsightly cosmetic issue of twisted and bulging veins.
Thankfully, a range of treatments exist to help patients get rid of varicose veins in the feet and ankles. Here, we discuss the causes of varicose veins in the feet, before delving into the best treatments.
What causes varicose veins in the ankles and feet?
A variety of different factors, from genetics and poor to stress, lead to varicose ankle and feet veins. However, two of the most impactful reasons are gravity and weight. Varicosities frequently occur in the legs as leg veins have to work harder against the force of gravity to push blood flow towards the heart. They also support your upper body weight, which puts added on the leg vein channels to blood flow.
If too much pressure builds up in leg vein channels, the small valves which regulate the blood flow become weak or damaged. Blood can start to flow through the vein (a process called venous reflux), leading to blood pooling and inside the vein itself. Bloated and discoloured varicose veins then appear as a direct result of this process.
Being overweight or obese can therefore increase the likelihood of varicose veins forming in the feet and ankles. Weakened vein valves will struggle to cope with the demands that excess body weight places on veins as they fight against to push blood towards the heart.
In to excess weight, other risk factors for varicose leg and ankle veins include:
With so many causal factors at play, it is no that a vast number of people experience varicose veins in the feet and ankles at some point during their lives.
Symptoms of varicose veins in ankles and feet
Different people experience varicose leg and ankle vein symptoms in different ways. However, the common range of symptoms is common:
Damaged veins in the feet and ankles can also present themselves as shallow spider veins. Spider veins are to varicose veins, but they are smaller and appear in a spider-web-like pattern.
How to tell if you have feet and ankle varicose veins
In some instances, patients will be able to visibly detect the presence of vein in their feet and ankles. Visibly large veins may bulge out across the top of the feet, or smaller thread-like spider veins may appear in a purple or blue colour. This may also be accompanied by physical swelling in the rest of the leg. Venous ulcers may also develop around the lower leg or ankle region.
In other instances, patients may show no obvious tangible signs of an abnormal vein problem. However, they may feel aching and throbbing sensations in their feet despite having no obvious physical signs.
Do ankle and foot varicose veins need to be treated?
If left untreated or undetected for too long, foot and ankle veins can cause serious problems. Issues range from venous eczema, skin discolouration, and severe ulceration to a general hardening of the ankle and lower leg. Feet and ankle veins can also cause serious and potentially life-threatening blood clots. This is why patients with suspected venous problems need to seek professional medical help as soon as they begin to notice symptoms.
How to get rid of varicose veins in feet and ankles
The best way to treat ankle and foot varicose veins is to seek out a consultation with a vascular surgeon. Our medical specialists are expertly trained in identifying venous issues and presenting the best solutions to treat them.
A central part of this consultation process is undergoing an advanced. This gives the vascular surgeon the ability to three-dimensionally analyse your feet and ankles to detect irregular blood flow issues or vein valve damage. The scan is noted as one of the leading ways to facilitate the best varicose vein treatments, as it gives vascular surgeons the information they need to accurately assess the state of the veins and the causal issues at play. This is why the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has endorsed the scan as a fundamental part of gold-standard.
Once this scan has taken place, your surgeon can identify underlying venous issues in your feet and ankles before recommending the best treatments to minimise your symptoms.
Best ankle and foot vein treatments
The best treatments for feet and leg veins work to completely remove damaged varicose vein channels from the feet and ankles. Modern treatments that do this are minimally invasive and performed on an outpatient basis, with minimal side effects and exceptional rates of success. At The Private Clinic, we offer 3 leading treatments to treat leg and ankle vein issues:
is a revolutionary varicose vein treatment for the feet and ankles with a proven rate of 98%. As one of our most popular treatments, it is recognised as the modern-day gold standard for varicose veins removal according to the . With a range of impressive benefits, like fast healing time and excellent long-term effectiveness, it uses laser heat energy to collapse feet and ankle veins. The ultrasound-guided laser device blasts short pulses of heat energy at the varicose vein walls to break them down and close off the vein channel. Once this has occurred, blood then redirects itself through healthier surrounding channels. Visible results will show through between 4 to 6 weeks post-treatment, once the treated vein has naturally broken down.
is a specialised treatment that removes smaller varicose veins in the feet and ankles. It’s an ideal treatment of recurrent vein issues and can be completed in less than 30 minutes using a local anaesthetic. Foam Sclerotherapy uses a special medical foam called a sclerosant which has been used for many years to break down the varicose vein walls. This sticky substance is injected into the affected vein using ultrasound guidance to coat the vein walls and push out blood from the affected channel. Over time, the vein walls will naturally dissolve and disappear as the body gradually absorbs them.
Most patients experience positive results after just 3-6 weeks post-treatment, but it can take longer for larger feet and ankle veins to completely . The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence this as the gold-standard alternative treatment if patients are not suitable for EVLA.
(microsclerotherapy) is a similar treatment that irritates the lining of vein walls to seal it off. This method is ideal for smaller veins like spider veins that cover a smaller surface area, while foam sclerotherapy is better for slightly larger vein channels. Your surgeon will advise on which treatment is best for your own needs during your .
is another minimally invasive treatment that treats varicose feet veins in just minutes. Whilst foam sclerotherapy and EVLA are more popular, it is used as a vein removal treatment in special cases. It uses thermal heat-based energy to damage the walls of the affected varicose veins. This causes them to completely close up with scar tissue. As a result, blood will no longer be able to pool and bulge inside the treated varicose vein channel. After a few weeks, the vein channel itself will be completely broken down and naturally absorbed by the body. Patients are likely to see noticeable improvements in just a matter of weeks.
Treating Ankle and Feet Varicose Veins at The Private Clinic
At The Private Clinic, we have been carrying out vein procedures in the ankles and feet for over 40 years. As a multi-award-winning treatment practice, we have a reputation for excellent long-term patient results, as seen in our 5-Star Trustpilot rating. Every year, our trained vascular surgeons carry out over 7,000 procedures, so you will benefit from being treated by experienced who have been instrumental in developing the best procedures.
To find out more about our ankle and foot vein treatments, complete our online to arrange a consultation. You can also call us directly on and we will be happy to help.
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The Private Clinic is a multi award winning group with clinics located across the UK. We have over 40 years’ experience in offering the best in advanced minimally invasive non surgical treatments and expert led surgical procedures in our clinics and hospitals. Our surgeons are all registered with the and we are regulated by the . The CQC is an independent regulator for health and social care in England. Last review March 10th 2023.
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