A vascular surgeon specialises in the blood vessels outside the heart — the arteries, veins, and lymphatic channels throughout your body. A cardiologist focuses specifically on the heart and its vessels. If you have a condition affecting your leg arteries, veins, neck arteries, or aorta, a vascular surgeon is the appropriate specialist to see.

No — you do not need a referral to book a consultation with us. Many patients come to us directly after noticing symptoms such as varicose veins, leg swelling, or a non-healing wound. That said, if your GP has already assessed you and recommends a specialist, we are happy to work alongside them as part of your care team.

We consult at two locations in Cape Town: Life Kingsbury Hospital in Claremont, and Mediclinic Constantiaberg in Plumstead. Both facilities offer ample parking and are easily accessible from the Southern Suburbs and surrounding areas. Full addresses and directions are available on our Contact page.

We work with all major South African medical aids. Depending on your plan and the treatment required, pre-authorisation may be needed before your procedure. We recommend contacting your medical aid in advance to confirm your benefits. Our practice manager can assist you with this process — please ask when booking your appointment.

You can book a consultation by calling our practice directly on +27 21 203 3893, completing the Book An Appointment form on our website, or sending us a WhatsApp message. Our practice manager will confirm your appointment and advise you on what to expect.

Please bring your South African ID or passport, your medical aid card and membership number, any relevant referral letters from your GP, and the results of any recent scans, blood tests, or imaging. If you are on chronic medication, please bring a list of your current medications and dosages. New patient registration forms are available on our Resources page — completing these in advance will save time on the day.

Our consulting rooms are open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00. For urgent matters outside of practice hours, please use our after-hours emergency number.

Yes. For urgent vascular concerns outside of practice hours, please call +27 21 712 6699. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency such as sudden severe chest or back pain, sudden leg coldness or paralysis, or signs of a stroke, please go directly to your nearest emergency department.

Consultations are billed directly by our practice. Surgical procedures and in-hospital treatments are performed at Life Kingsbury Hospital or Mediclinic Constantiaberg, and billing will involve separate accounts from the hospital, the anaesthetist, and our surgical team. It is necessary to obtain pre-authorisation from your medical aid before any procedure. Our team will guide you through this process and provide cost estimates where possible.

In many cases, yes — particularly when varicose veins are causing symptoms such as pain, swelling, skin changes, or ulcers. Cosmetic treatment of spider veins is generally not covered. Coverage depends on your specific medical aid plan and scheme rules, and pre-authorisation is usually required. We recommend checking with your medical aid before booking a procedure, and our team can assist with the motivation process if needed.

Varicose veins are enlarged, bulging veins that are typically blue or green in colour and visible beneath the skin — most commonly found on the legs. They occur when the valves inside the veins stop working properly, causing blood to pool. Spider veins are smaller, web-like clusters of red or purple vessels close to the skin surface. They are generally a cosmetic concern, while varicose veins can cause significant discomfort and, if left untreated, may lead to more serious complications.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure performed under local anaesthetic, and most patients return to light daily activities within one to two days. You will be advised to walk regularly from the day of treatment and to wear a compression stocking for a period afterwards. Strenuous exercise and prolonged standing should be avoided for one to two weeks. Most patients find the recovery significantly easier than traditional vein stripping surgery.

Treatment is highly effective at closing the treated veins, and the results are long-lasting. However, varicose veins can develop in other vessels over time, particularly if underlying risk factors such as prolonged standing, obesity, or a family history of venous disease are present. Wearing compression stockings, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying active can all help reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Your surgeon will discuss long-term management with you at your consultation.

The most common early symptom is cramping pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock that comes on during walking and eases with rest, a condition known as claudication. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include pain in the foot or toes at rest (especially at night), skin that appears pale, shiny, or bluish, slow-healing wounds on the feet or legs, and coldness in one leg or foot compared to the other. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to seek assessment promptly.

The aorta is the main artery carrying blood from the heart through the chest and abdomen. An aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta weakens and balloons outward. Small aneurysms are often monitored with regular ultrasound scans. Surgery is generally recommended when the aneurysm reaches approximately 5.5 cm in diameter, is growing rapidly, or is causing symptoms such as back or abdominal pain. If an aneurysm ruptures, it is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate surgery. Early detection through screening is key.

Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque) from inside the carotid arteries, the main arteries in your neck that supply blood to the brain. When these arteries narrow significantly, the risk of stroke increases. The operation involves making a small incision in the neck, opening the artery, and carefully removing the plaque to restore normal blood flow. It is one of the most effective procedures available for reducing stroke risk in patients with significant carotid artery disease.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg. Symptoms include swelling in one leg, aching or throbbing pain (particularly in the calf), redness or warmth over the affected area, and skin that may appear red or discoloured. Symptoms can sometimes be mild or absent. If you experience sudden leg swelling, especially after a long flight, surgery, or a period of immobility, seek medical assessment promptly.

DVT can be serious. The main risk is that a clot may break off and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up blood. If you suspect a pulmonary embolism, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most DVTs are managed successfully, and serious complications can be prevented.

Most DVTs are treated with blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants), which prevents the clot from growing and reduces the risk of a pulmonary embolism while the body gradually dissolves the clot over time. Treatment may be in tablet or injection form and is typically continued for three to six months, depending on the cause and severity. Compression stockings are also recommended to reduce swelling and protect the veins long-term. In severe cases, more invasive treatment to remove the clot may be considered. Your vascular surgeon will assess the best course of action based on your individual situation.

You should seek a vascular surgery consultation if you have diabetes and notice any of the following: a wound or sore on your foot that is not healing, discolouration or darkening of the toes or foot, pain or cramps in your legs when walking, coldness or numbness in your feet, or if your GP or podiatrist has identified poor circulation in your legs. Do not wait for a wound to worsen — early assessment can make a significant difference to the outcome and may help avoid more serious intervention.

Many diabetic foot ulcers can be managed without surgery, particularly when they are identified early and treated promptly. Treatment typically involves wound care, offloading pressure from the affected foot, managing blood sugar levels, treating any infection with antibiotics, and improving blood flow to the foot where needed. However, if blood supply to the foot is significantly compromised, a procedure to restore circulation, such as angioplasty, may be necessary to allow healing to occur. In advanced cases where tissue has become non-viable, surgical debridement or, in severe cases, amputation may be required. Early specialist assessment gives patients the best chance of avoiding surgery.