Varicose vein surgery
Procedures not routinely provided by NHSScotland
- Varicose veins with no skin complications

- Thread Veins

Patients should be given the following advice:
- Avoid prolonged standing or sitting still
- Elevate legs when possible
- Use moisturiser if skin is dry, flaky or scaly
- Use support tights or compression stockings (consider if arterial disease assessment is required before using)
- Weight loss and exercise may reduce the risk of further varicose vein formation
Considerations for treatment
Indications for referral
- Varicose eczema

- Lipodermatosclerosis

- Venous ulceration

- Bleeding
- Venous pigmentation
- Thrombophlebitis requiring treatment with enoxaparin or demonstrated on ultrasound scanning
- Diagnosis of truncal thrombophlebitis
- Reducing the progression of skin changes in patients with treatable superficial disease
- Aiming to heal venous ulcers
- Aiming to prevent recurrence of venous ulcers
- Prevention of further bleeding episodes
- Prevention of recurrent thrombophlebitis
Treatment can only be considered when one or more of these indications for referral are met.