Varicose veins – treatment in Charlottenlund
Varicose veins (varices) are enlarged leg veins. Learn about causes, symptoms, duplex examination and modern laser treatment (EVLT) with a surgeon in Charlottenlund.
Varicose veins are one of the most common reasons people see a surgeon in Denmark. They are rarely dangerous, but they can hurt, make the legs feel heavy, and get worse over time if left alone. This page gives you the overview: what varicose veins are, why they appear, how we examine them, and which treatments we offer.
Our clinic is in Charlottenlund, just north of Copenhagen. We treat patients referred by their GP (free of charge through the Danish public health system) as well as self-paying patients who want treatment without waiting.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins, or varices, are veins in the legs that have become widened and twisted. You can often see them as bluish cords under the skin. Behind the visible change lies a mechanical fault: the small valves inside the vein, which normally push blood up toward the heart, no longer close properly. Blood flows the wrong way, pools in the leg, and stretches the vein wall. The medical term is venous insufficiency.
Varicose veins are not the same as thread veins, the fine red and purple webs of tiny vessels. The two can appear together, though, and partly share the same cause.
Symptoms
Many people first notice varicose veins because they can be seen. But most also feel something, especially toward the end of the day or after long hours of standing:
- Heaviness and tiredness in the legs
- Swelling around the ankles
- Itching or burning over the vein
- Night cramps or restless legs
- Skin discolouration at the ankle in long-standing disease
- In rare cases, venous ulcers or venous eczema
Read more about signs of varicose veins and when to act on them.
Causes and risk factors
Genetics play the biggest role. If your parents had varicose veins, your odds are high. Beyond genes, the condition is more common with:
- Pregnancy, especially repeated pregnancies
- Increasing age
- Overweight
- Standing or sedentary work with little movement
- A previous deep-vein blood clot
The full background is in our article on causes of varicose veins.
How we make the diagnosis
A thorough examination is the foundation of the right treatment. Every patient at our clinic starts with a consultation and a duplex ultrasound scan of the leg. The scan is painless and takes 20-30 minutes. It maps:
- Which veins are leaking
- Where the valves have failed
- Whether the deep veins are working normally
The result decides which method suits your legs. Two patients with the same visible veins can easily need two different treatments.
Treatment options
Modern varicose-vein care is minimally invasive. We offer four methods, often in combination:
Laser treatment (EVLT)
EVLT is first choice for the large leaking veins (typically the great or small saphenous vein). A thin laser fibre is passed into the vein through a needle puncture, and the heat closes the vein from the inside. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, and you go home about an hour later. Most patients are back at work the next day.
Classic varicose-vein surgery
Open surgery is used when laser is not technically possible, or when the vein takes an awkward course. We remove the diseased vein through small incisions. The method is well documented and lasts for many years.
Microphlebectomy
Visible, winding branches are removed through 1-2 mm punctures that do not need stitches. Often combined with EVLT in the same session, and gives a clean cosmetic result.
Foam sclerotherapy
A medical foam is injected directly into the vein, sticking the walls together so the vein closes. Suited to smaller veins and residual branches after laser treatment.
Compression stockings
Compression stockings are not a cure, but they ease symptoms, slow the disease, and are a standard part of the recovery after any procedure. They are also worn by patients waiting for treatment or who prefer not to have surgery.
Prices and referral
With a referral from your GP, treatment is free, it is covered by the Danish public health system under our provider number.
As a self-paying patient, the prices are:
- EVLT laser treatment: DKK 12,000 per leg
- Classic varicose-vein surgery: DKK 8,000 per leg
The duplex scan and follow-up are included. See the full price list.
What to expect
- Referral or direct booking. Call or write. If you have a referral, your GP sends it to us.
- Initial consultation. Conversation and duplex scan of the leg. We go through the findings and your options together.
- Treatment. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and takes 45-90 minutes depending on the method.
- Follow-up. A check-up after 4-6 weeks with a new scan to make sure the vein has closed properly.
When to seek help
Contact your GP or call us if you have:
- Pain, swelling, or heaviness that affects daily life
- Skin changes or open sores near the ankle
- A tender, red and warm vein (this can be superficial phlebitis)
- Sudden swelling of the whole leg , this can be a deep-vein blood clot and needs urgent assessment
Frequently asked questions
Do varicose veins go away on their own? No. Once a venous valve is damaged, it does not recover. Symptoms can vary, but the vein itself will not heal without treatment.
Will varicose veins come back after treatment? The treated vein is gone for good. New varicose veins can appear elsewhere, because the underlying inherited tendency remains. Check-ups and compression stockings keep that risk down.
Does EVLT hurt? The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, so you only feel the needle. Afterwards, the leg can be sore for a few days, roughly like after hard exercise.
How quickly can I work again? Most people return to desk work the day after EVLT. For physically demanding jobs, we recommend 3-5 days off.
Do I need compression stockings afterwards? Yes, for 1-2 weeks after EVLT and a bit longer after classic surgery. They reduce swelling and give the best result.
Book an appointment
Want your legs checked? You are welcome to call us during phone hours or send an email. Waiting times are short.
Contact information
Hans Edvard Teglers Vej 9, 1st floor. 2920 Charlottenlund
- Phone: +45 39 64 01 25
- Email: mail@kirurgen.dk
Appointments
Phone hours are Monday-Thursday, 09:00-12:00.
For referring physicians
Provider number 215430
How to book
Online booking is not available. Call the clinic or ask your GP for a referral.
With a referral from your GP, treatment is free under the Danish public health insurance.
Call the clinic
+45 39 64 01 25
Phone hours
Phone hours: Mon–Thu 09:00–12:00
Address
Hans Edvard Teglers Vej 9, 1st floor · 2920 Charlottenlund
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between varicose veins and varices?+
None – they are two words for the same thing. Varices is the medical Latin term for varicose veins: enlarged, tortuous veins, most often on the legs, caused by chronic venous insufficiency.
Do varicose veins go away on their own?+
No. Varicose veins are a chronic, progressive condition. Symptoms can be relieved with compression and exercise, but the diseased vein itself does not heal spontaneously. Effective treatment requires the vein to be closed or removed.
Are varicose veins dangerous?+
Varicose veins themselves are not life-threatening. Untreated, they can over time cause eczema, skin changes and venous leg ulcers. Sudden, painful swelling in one leg should always be assessed urgently to rule out deep vein thrombosis.
What does treatment of varicose veins cost?+
With a GP referral the treatment is free – the clinic operates under the Danish public health insurance. For self-payers, endovenous laser treatment costs DKK 12,000 per leg and classic surgery DKK 8,000 per leg.
Which treatment of varicose veins is best?+
Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA/EVLT) is the first-line treatment for the large truncal veins. It is gentler than classic stripping and just as effective – more than 95% of treated veins remain closed after 5 years.