Varicose veins are a common health problem, affecting both women and men. Its symptoms may be mild or severe, from leg tiredness and swelling to ulcers and blood clots.
When it comes to treatments for varicose veins, there is a wide variety from which you can choose, according to these symptoms. Your doctor will recommend the procedures that are suitable for you, either surgical or non-surgical.
- Sclerotherapy
This method is recommended especially for small to medium varicose veins or for spider veins. Sclerotherapy practically consists of injecting the damaged veins with a chemical substance that causes them to close off, by irritation and scarring their inside.
This medical procedure does not require anesthesia, and it can be done in the office of your doctor while you are standing.
However, most probably, you will get rid of all those varicose veins during several treatments, which usually last between 4 and 6 weeks.
Even though sclerotherapy is painless, it also has disadvantages. The main one is that you cannot treat large veins using this procedure.
- Ablation
Ablation is another successful method when it comes to varicose veins. This procedure uses either lasers or radiowaves, to create heat and cauterize the damaged veins. Through an incision, the doctor will insert a catheter, which looks like a small tube, into the vein. This will be heated up on the inside, causing it to close off.
This procedure does not require general anesthesia, but a local one. Generally, the patient will go home on the same day.
- Laser Surgery
This method does not require any incisions or injecting chemicals into your veins. The laser light is applied to the damaged veinsin order to make them fade away. Of course, there is no need for anesthesia, but the procedure can be done only for small varicose veins.
- Endoscopic Vein Surgery
Through an incision, a thin tube – which has a small camera and a surgical device at its end – is introduced into the damaged vein. The doctor uses that device to close the vein.
This medical procedure is usually recommended for large varicose veins that already caused complications, such as skin ulcers.
The recovery period is short, and you can come back to your regular daily routine and recreational activities in a few weeks.
- Phlebectomy
During this procedure, the doctor is making small incisions in your skin. Through these, he/she will remove the damaged veins that are at the surface.
There is no need for general anesthesia, but a local one is required. After a few hours, you can go home.
- Vein Stripping and Ligation
This medical procedure consists of tying off and removing the veins. This happens through small incisions in your skin.
Vein stripping and ligation is also referred to as surgical vein removal and is recommended in cases of severe varicose veins, which have already caused ulcers and other complications. It can also be used in order to prevent these issues.
For more information about getting your veins removed, don’t hesitate to discuss with your doctor or contact a vein clinic.