Why Do Varicose Veins Recur?

Varicose veins will come back if they don’t receive the correct treatment in the first place. Also known as recurrence. Here we outline the top five reasons why varicose veins will recur and why the chances of recurrence are limited if veins are treated using The Whiteley Protocol®

Reason 1: Vein stripping

Stripped veins will grow back again but they will grow back with no valves. Research has shown that this treatment approach does not work and therefore the technique should never be performed. At The Whiteley Clinic we do not offer Vein Stripping as a treatment method. Additionally we strongly advise patients to never have their veins stripped.

Reason 2: Inadequate treatment

Also veins can potentially re-open after inadequate treatment. The wrong power setting on a laser could be the cause of this. Or foam sclerotherapy being used in a vein which is too large for this type of treatment. We tailor our treatments specifically to the patient’s veins and our own prize winning research ensures we know to use the right technique for each vein.

Reason 3: Insufficient scanning of the Varicose Veins

Additionally many clinics will do a very quick ultrasound scan, sometimes performed by the surgeon, which takes around 10 minutes. Our The Whiteley Clinic trained Sonographers perform duplex ultrasound scans which take around 45 minutes. Sonographers at the The Whiteley Clinic perform a thorough scan to make sure that no veins are missed.

Reason 4: Poor diagnosis

Most clinics will only check the main veins in the legs and, as a result, often miss the more subtle secondary causes of varicose veins.
The Whiteley Protocol® ensures that our scans examine all of the veins in the legs. This allows us to identify all of the causes of vein problems and, in turn, tailor treatment plans for optimum results.

Reason 5: Undetected pelvic veins

Furthermore most clinics do not check for pelvic vein reflux in women. For 1 in 7 women, pelvic varicose veins are the major cause of the leg varicose veins. If the pelvic veins are not identified and don’t receive treatment, the varicose veins in the leg will return. Our published results show that the best way to identify pelvic varicose veins is by having a full pelvic scan to identify which veins need treating. Under The Whiteley Protocol®, all patients with varicose veins arising from the pelvis are offered this scan.

The Whiteley Clinic has a dedicated programme of continual research and development which means our recurrence rates after vein surgery are as low as it is possible to get. To book a consultation or to find out more about The Whiteley Protocol® please call 0330 058 1850 or email info@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk