Fortunately, treatment for varicose veins does not include an overnight stay in the hospital or an extended recovery process. With a number of minimally invasive treatments to choose from, the procedures are done in an outpatient setting and require little to no downtime. Read on to learn more about the most common treatment options for varicose veins in the legs:
- Home Care. A good regimen of home self-care is the first line of defense in reducing symptoms of varicose veins such as pain and swelling in the legs. The added benefit of these measures is they can also prevent or slow the development of further varicose veins. To learn about specific techniques to good home self-care click here.
- Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT). EVLT is a non-invasive treatment best suited for larger varicose veins. Through a small puncture in the leg, a tiny optic fiber laser is inserted through a needle into the diseased vein. Laser heat is then used to close of the vein, allowing blood to be naturally rerouted to other healthy veins within the leg. For more information on EVLT read A Beginners Guide here.
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). RFA is a minimally invasive approach to treatment in which a tiny catheter is inserted through a small incision below the knee and guided by ultrasound imaging to treat a diseased vein with short bursts of radiofrequency energy. As the physician slowly removes the catheter, each segment of the vein is treated until the entire length of the diseased vein has been sealed. As with EVLT, blood is then naturally re-routed to healthy veins.
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy. This procedure is designed for larger diseased veins to relieve physical pain and discomfort as well as the appearance of bulging veins. Ambulatory Phlebectomy is often done in conjunction with RFA or EVLT and requires the insertion of a phlebectomy hook through a small needle puncture like incision allowing for the removal of the vein in sections.
- Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a relatively painless, minimally invasive procedure to treat small and large spider veins. During the procedure abnormal veins are injected with a solution causing them to swell, collapse and fade away over time. Once the vein collapses and closes down, it is absorbed naturally back into the body. Sclerotherapy is often used after EVLT or RFA to achieve further aesthetic relief of lingering spider veins around previous larger varicose veins.
There are many options for the treatment of diseased veins and your best option depends on the severity of your condition, your preference and desired outcomes. When you are ready to take the first step in the process of treating your varicose veins, request an appointment with one of our Premier Vein Clinics physicians today! Premier Vein Clinics is locally owned and operated in Knoxville.