If you have varicose veins, you are not alone. About a quarter of all adults in the United States suffer from bulging, twisted red or blue veins appearing near the skin’s surface on the legs and calves, according to the American Heart Association. Varicose veins are unsightly and sometimes painful. These diseased veins can also lead to poor circulation in the lower legs and can even result in painful sores near the ankles.
Fortunately, vascular surgeons offer a variety of vein treatment options to help you get rid of varicose veins.
Ways Vein Doctors Can Help You Get Rid of Varicose Veins
The vein doctors at your nearby vein clinic offer a variety of vein treatment options that help you get rid of varicose veins, such as:
- Laser ablation (EVLT)
- Radiofrequency Closure (Venefit)
- Nonthermal ablation
- Microphlebectomy
- Sclerotherapy
- Surgery
EVLT is a minimally invasive technique, in which vein doctors use targeted laser energy to heat the vein. This heating action seals the diseased vein to prevent blood from flowing through it. In time, the vein dissolves; nearby tissue absorbs the remnants of the varicose vein, leaving behind smooth looking skin. After varicose vein treatment, blood flows through nearby healthy veins.
Your vein doctor performs EVLT by inserting a small needle into the affected vein, somewhat like an IV. The surgeon then introduces a laser fiber into the vein, using ultrasound guidance to precisely position within the target vein. Performed with only a local anesthetic, laser ablation usually takes less than an hour.
The Venefit procedure, previously known as VNUS Closure, uses radiofrequency waves to heat and close varicose veins. Similar to EVLT, your doctor positions a small catheter into the diseased vein with the help of ultrasound guidance before introducing radiofrequency waves.
Nonthermal ablation uses chemical energy to close veins. Unlike laser or radiofrequency ablation, nonthermal ablation is heatless so it is faster, and more comfortable. Sclerotherapy also uses chemicals. Sclerotherapy with ultrasound guidance is effective for those hidden, smaller varicose veins that can lie deeper below the skin’s surface.
In microphlebectomy, doctors remove sections of varicose vein through tiny punctures in the skin. Surgeons perform this minimally invasive procedure in an outpatient vein clinic setting.
These minimally invasive procedures have largely replaced varicose vein surgery in recent times, but, in rare cases, surgery is the last option to get rid of varicose veins. Patients with complex or recurrent vein disease may require a surgical procedure, such as ligation and stripping, subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery, or thrombectomy.
If you want to get rid of varicose veins and reclaim smooth, beautiful skin on your legs, make an appointment with your vein clinic today.
