Ulrika Jonsson’s reveals she is recovering from ‘painful’ procedure to remove her varicose veins as she shares snaps in hospital gown

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Ulrika Jonsson has revealed she is recovering from a procedure to remove her varicose veins. 

The 58-year-old TV personality shared photos from her hospital stay on Instagram Friday, revealing that her treatment was ‘painful, uncomfortable, and definitely not glamorous.’

In her post, she shared that she’d been dealing with bleeding and discomfort from her surgical socks, but ultimately the procedure was successful.

Ulrika explained she needed to rest for the next eight days after the procedure, which she’s now had done three times.

Following advice from my therapist to challenge myself, I scheduled an appointment to treat my varicose veins as a way to step outside my comfort zone.

I’ve been involved in this work for quite a while – this was my third and last time. My previous visit was 21 years ago. These days, they not only remove the pigs, but also use modern techniques – essentially sterilizing them with heat and foam.

The surgery was complicated, but it went well. Despite the discomfort of tight compression stockings and some post-operative bleeding, having someone make me a grilled cheese and ham sandwich felt like a small luxury.

It’s definitely been a difficult and unpleasant experience, and not exactly glamorous, but I’m so thankful for my wonderful doctor, Mr. Northeast.

Back in October, I had a procedure to try and reduce blood flow to my legs. They accessed a vein in my neck while I was awake and guided a wire down to my pelvis to block the veins supplying my legs. I actually had this done once before, 21 years ago – it’s a pretty unusual treatment!

For the next eight days, I’ll be recovering – trying to rest with compression stockings, though it won’t be easy! Please send positive energy and maybe some treats to help me feel better.

Varicose vein removal aims to treat damaged veins by either closing them off or removing them completely. Common treatments include minimally invasive procedures like radiofrequency or laser ablation, which use heat to seal the veins, and sclerotherapy, where a foam solution is injected to make the veins collapse.

For more serious problems, traditional surgery involves completely removing the affected vein through small incisions. Another option, phlebectomy, uses even tinier cuts to remove veins closer to the skin’s surface.

The most effective treatment varies based on the size of the vein and the patient’s symptoms. Ulrika didn’t share details about the specific treatment she received.

This follows Ulrika’s recent disclosure of a disturbing phone call she received while struggling with excessive drinking.

She tearfully remembered a difficult conversation with her best friend during the worst part of her battle with alcohol.

She explained that while the conversation was deeply embarrassing, it was the turning point where she realized she needed to make a change.

Appearing on Spencer Matthews’ podcast, UNTAPPED, she started by saying, ‘It was terrible. My best friend called me one Saturday morning.’

She told me, “I need to talk to you. When we spoke yesterday afternoon around 4 o’clock, I couldn’t understand anything you said. It seems like you’re having some difficulties, and unfortunately, I’m not able to assist you.”

I was completely heartbroken, and there was nothing I could do to change the situation. She told me she was saying it because she cared, but that I really needed to get some help.

Ulrika went on to explain that she continued drinking, even during the difficult conversation, because she felt so embarrassed and ashamed. She described the experience as terrible.

‘I knew that she knew that I had a problem too. And I was said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.” 

The TV presenter says openly admitting her struggles in June 2024 was crucial to her recovery and helped her overcome addiction.

Ulrika recently shared her path to getting sober in a heartfelt letter, explaining that she’s been alcohol-free for more than a year and it’s completely changed her life for the better.

I remember it so clearly. It was just a typical hangover morning – feeling awful, with my head and body both pounding. I was wallowing on the sofa, completely miserable, and on a whim, I decided to reach out for help. It wasn’t a planned thing, just something I felt compelled to do.

The actress revealed she used to drink heavily, often to the point of losing consciousness, and explained how her drinking problem gradually developed over time.

Even though she avoided major consequences like job loss, family issues, or legal trouble, the impact was still considerable.

Ulrika confessed she turned to alcohol to cope with intense anxiety, wanting to escape her problems and overcome feelings of self-hatred.

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2026-02-13 14:34