Tillie Amartey, the 22-year-old actor known for playing Stacey Neville in Waterloo Road and appearing on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, has undergone a lunchtime procedure to treat varicose veins. She said she felt 'more confident than ever' after the operation, which took less than an hour.
Amartey had struggled for years with swollen and twisted veins on the back of both legs, but decided to take action after seeing a red carpet picture. 'On the picture I was turned backwards, doing a peace sign and I had my leg up. And I thought “Gosh, I can’t post that on social media because my vein looks scary”,' she said.
Research led her to VeinCentre for an endovenous laser ablation procedure. 'I was up and about instantly and was impressed the procedure had no impact on my busy schedule,' she said. 'I think a lot of people were shocked when I’d say I have varicose veins. I’m a very active person, constantly walking around sets and an avid gym goer, but by the end of the day my legs would feel like lead.'
Varicose veins occur when valves inside leg veins stop working properly, causing blood to pool and veins to enlarge. Sufferers can experience leg heaviness, itching, and swelling. Amartey’s grandfather also had the condition. 'I think I’ve actually had varicose veins since being young but because it was at the back of my leg it never really bothered me,' she said.
The procedure was performed by consultant vascular surgeon Dominic Dodd, who has carried out more than 7,000 similar operations. 'Varicose veins are incredibly common but many people think it’s something that only affects older people. I commend Tillie for speaking so openly about this,' he said.
