Your so 'vein'

Yesterday I was a very brave person. I went all on my tod to the London Clinic to have day surgery to removes a couple of veins from my legs. Today I'm bandaged to the hilt like Nora Batty. It is not a good look. However tomorrow later in the day, 48 hours after the surgery I can take off the bandages and wear compression stockings for 2 weeks. Luckily the stockings are black and I can get away with them as leggings or tights. No one will know with some clever dressing.

It was severe discomfort that led me to have them taken out. I am so quite vain so on the plus side I feel a sense of relief as well. Not that I ever let the veins on the back of my legs stop me flaunting bare legs but I took measures to disguise the worst one on my right leg. And at times when the combination of heat and humidity exasperated the vein I preferred to hide it. It has taken years for me to do anything about it. Mainly because the NHS no longer undertake such procedures. Well from my research I deduced they were non essential surgery and therefore most health authorities have dispensed with addressing varicose or protruding veins.

Luckily Mr MDS has medical cover through work and I was able to be referred to a vascular surgeon by my GP and hence my operation. Prior to the operation I was able to ask my consultant a number of questions on how women get varicose veins and the bottom line is they are hereditary. No amount of leg crossing, leg shaving, standing on your legs etc. will be a factor in the likelihood of a varicose or protruding vein. For years I thought was it my job, there is a lot of standing up and around as a stylist. Have I crossed my legs too much? Did my half marathon running make it worse and the answer to all these questions is no. The fact my paternal grandmother had varicose veins and the fact my mother has a protruding vein and a visible vein but not a varicose vein, has given me the varicose vein on my right leg and the protruding vein on my left leg. Having this predisposition increased the chance of me getting the vein issue on my legs.

Once I knew that I could have the surgery done I thought why not! My vanity kicked in. The fear of the procedure was overcome not by the realisation that my legs wouldn't ache any more, but that the veins would be gone!

My arrival was all very straightforward (train & tube worked well) and I had time to to go Marylebone High St for a copy of Grazia. I had to fast so no sneaky coffee or breakfast was allowed. I was shown into a cubicle to get my surgery look sorted!

I'm sure only a stylist could in the midst of a hospital procedure think about the recent S/S12 collections. I was struck by the colour of my dressing gown and the print of the gown, plus my small size hospital slippers of both Prada and Marni's S/S12 collection... or more specifically the pale blue colour and it's pairing with red or yellow.

It cheered me up anyway before my impending day surgery! Of course the cut of the gown is not a fashion statement (I had to do it up myself so I made sure I did bows at the back!) but I'm really looking forward to S/S12 now as I felt Prada, Marni, Chanel and Louis Vuitton delivered a wealth of inspiration to create great looks. I feel the injection of pale blue as a summer coat or skirt is going to have to be a must.

And yes the op went fine. I was hard core and opted for minimal sedation, i.e. just a heavy painkiller with an oxygen mask. Again all I could think was how good oxygen was for the skin and nodded enthusiastically when offered it. I knew what was going on and could tell what was being done but I mainly busied my mind with what outfit to wear given the compression tights situation for our wedding anniversary meal at Le Caprice. It is amazing how thinking through wardrobe options can keep you occupied for an hour and a half of surgery.

It is 4 miles a day walks for me now and a bit of discomfort after yesterday which will pass as it all heals.