Who to see for varicose veins and how to choose compression stockings in England

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Start with symptoms

See a GP for pain, heaviness, swelling, skin changes or a non-healing ulcer. The NHS describes varicose-vein referral ↗. Treatment solely for appearance is generally unavailable through the NHS; symptoms and complications are assessed separately.

Prepare duration, previous clots, operations, pregnancy, medicines and activity impact. A vein photograph cannot determine the required procedure.

Specialist assessment

A GP may refer to a vascular service. Treatment planning usually uses duplex ultrasound to assess blood flow. This differs from a cosmetic surface-skin assessment.

For private care, check the GMC ↗, specialty and experience. Approve consultation, imaging and treatment with insurance. Discuss options, contraindications, recovery and recurrence; no procedure guarantees that new veins will never develop.

Compression selection

Compression is unsuitable for some people, particularly where arterial blood flow is impaired. The NHS advises discussing the correct type with a doctor or pharmacist.

Obtain the appropriate class, length, size and wearing instructions. Do not choose solely by shoe size or a friend's advice. Ask about measurements, assistance putting stockings on, care and review. Pregnancy requires separate discussion and generally changes procedural treatment plans.

Costs and urgent changes

Separate consultation, duplex, treatment, stockings and follow-up in the quote. Check repeat scanning and complication care. Avoid prepaying for cosmetic injections before a symptomatic problem has been medically assessed.

Bleeding varicose veins need urgent GP help or 111. New one-sided swelling and pain may need assessment for DVT ↗; associated chest pain or breathlessness requires 999. Do not automatically attribute sudden deterioration to familiar varicose veins or massage a painful swollen leg before assessment.