Legs Talk: Professor Mark Whiteley

When it comes to varicose and thread veins, the questions never stop—and with good reason. These are some of the most common leg concerns out there. So who better to chat to than the man who’s made it his life’s work to understand, treat, and solve them: Professor Mark Whiteley, the leading figure behind the Whiteley Protocol and founder of The Whiteley Clinic.

We sat down with him to talk myths, treatment breakthroughs, and why your legs might need their own MOT…

What makes treating veins so confusing for most people?

It’s because it’s not just about finding a vein and treating it—it’s about finding the right veins and choosing the right method to treat them. That’s what the Whiteley Protocol is all about. It starts with a proper scan—not a quick one with a little hand-held device. We now know that each leg can have between 155 to 160 veins involved in varicose vein conditions. So if you don’t identify all of them, you won’t fix the problem.

So it’s not just cosmetic?

Exactly. Half the people with varicose veins don’t have the visible, lumpy ones. Instead, they might just get aching, swelling, or thread veins. And these are often the early signs of a bigger venous problem. You can even have a vein issue starting in your pelvis that only shows symptoms in your calf. It’s all connected.

Can you explain what the Whiteley Protocol actually is?

It’s a way of diagnosing and treating vein conditions based entirely on science. First, we identify the exact pattern of which veins aren’t working. Then we choose from all available treatments—laser, radiofrequency, foam, glue—whatever’s best suited for that specific case. It’s never one-size-fits-all. And it’s a living protocol. If a new treatment comes out, we test it rigorously and, if it works, we incorporate it.

What were people doing before this?

Before 1999, the standard approach was to strip the veins—physically pull them out. The problem is, veins just grow back. That’s why people kept coming back for more treatment. The underlying issues weren’t being addressed. That’s what we changed.

And how do you actually decide what treatment to use?

It depends on the size, depth, and wall thickness of the vein. Some veins need gentle treatments, others need more aggressive ones. If you under-treat, you can cause blood clots. If you over-treat, you get scarring. The key is balance, and that’s why the Whiteley Protocol is tailored to each person.

We love that you offer something called the Leg MOT. What is it?

It’s a comprehensive leg health check. If someone comes in with symptoms, we first assess whether it's a venous issue. If it is, we do a 45-minute duplex ultrasound—properly, with vascular technologists trained in our protocol. The Leg MOT is also great for follow-up. For example, if we’ve treated you and you’re all clear, we offer the MOT every year or two just to check things are still good. Think of it like going to the dentist—just for your legs!

A lot of women say they got varicose veins during pregnancy. Is that true?

Not quite. In nearly all the cases we’ve seen, the varicose veins were already there before pregnancy—they just weren’t visible yet. Hormonal changes and extra pressure can bring them to the surface, but they didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere. It’s the same with a lot of the so-called “causes” of varicose veins. Most don’t actually cause them.

Do men get varicose veins too?

They do. About 50% of men and 50% of women have them, according to community studies. The difference is, men tend to ignore them or not seek treatment. But the condition is just as common.

Where are thread veins most common?

In the legs—83% of women and 79% of men will develop thread veins there at some point. But it’s important to distinguish between leg and facial thread veins. On the face, it’s cosmetic. You can treat them with laser or heat. But on the legs, 90% of cases are caused by deeper vein issues. If you treat the surface veins without addressing the cause, they’ll just come back—or worse, lead to permanent red scarring.

Can young people get varicose veins too?

Absolutely. I’ve seen severe varicose veins in 12-year-olds and venous leg ulcers in 19-year-olds. It’s mostly genetic. Yes, ageing can make it worse, but it can start at any time depending on your genes.

Final words of wisdom?

Get properly diagnosed. If you’re having symptoms—thread veins, aching legs, swelling—don’t assume it’s just cosmetic. Get a proper scan and find the cause. Treating veins correctly isn’t about guesswork. It’s about precision—and that’s what we do.

Find out more about Professor Whiteley and The Whiteley Clinic at thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk.