It’s New Year’s Eve and you are going shopping for the perfect thing to wear. You spend hours trying on dresses and finally you find the perfect one. You go into the dressing room to try it on. You start smiling and say wow, this looks great! Then you look in the mirror at your legs and see these bulging blue varicose veins that not even compression stockings can hide.
Disappointed, you change back into your everyday clothes and just opt to wear pants again!
“It is time to get rid of these Varicose Veins!”
You have finally come to the realization that you have varicose veins, but what can you do to get rid of them? The first step is to schedule an appointment with one of the experienced vascular specialists at Premier Vein Clinics to determine the severity and medical necessity of treating your varicose veins. Most people think that they are just a cosmetic issue, but often varicose veins are caused by an underlying condition that can only be determined by a trained professional.
Step 1 – Consultation
If you are having symptoms of varicose veins like pain, throbbing, cramping, tiredness and fatigue, or itching and burning in your legs, you should contact a specialist like the doctors at Premier Surgical Vein Clinics in Knoxville. In January and February only, Premier Vein Clinics is offering free consultations to qualified candidates. This is a great time to have your varicose veins evaluated! Premier has the largest group of board certified vascular surgeons in Knoxville and can develop a strategy to help you get rid of varicose veins.
Step 2 – Questions & Family History
Prepare a list of questions for the day of your consultation. Be prepared to answer questions about your daily routine, occupation, and family history, such as genetics, gender, pregnancy, use of birth control pills, age, occupation and any activities that involve prolonged sitting or standing.
Step 3 – Options for Preventing or Reducing
As part of your strategy discuss with your doctor options for preventing or reducing your chances of getting varicose veins in the future. There is no way to completely prevent varicose veins, but improving your circulation and muscle tone can reduce your risk of developing them. Your strategy should include an exercise program, watching your weight and diet, elevating your legs when possible, avoiding long periods of sitting or standing, and avoiding sitting with your legs crossed.
Step 4 – Treatment Plan
Your vein treatment plan usually begins with an in-depth physical exam and diagnostic ultrasound to determine the severity of your varicose veins. There are several treatment options and your vein specialists will help you determine the next steps and the plan that is appropriate for you. Here are some of the options your doctor may recommend for you:
- Sclerotherapy is an in-office, minimally invasive procedure in which abnormal small and large spider veins are injected with a solution that causes them to swell, collapse, and fade away over time. The abnormal absorbed into your body.
- Ambulatory Phlebotomy is a procedure developed in Europe for the treatment of medium to large veins. During the treatment, veins close to the skin’s surface are removed with a small knitting needle-like hook through pinhole punctures. Local anesthetic is used during this in-office, minimally invasive procedure. Little or no down time is required, and can be used in conjunction with sclerotherapy.
- Endovenous Laser Therapy (ELT) is a non-invasive treatment for larger veins. Laser energy delivered through a small puncture in the leg is used to treat the diseased vein. Guided by ultrasound, a tiny fiber optic laser is inserted through a needle into the varicose vein. The laser heats and closes the vein, allowing blood to be naturally rerouted to other healthy veins. There is no surgery or hospitalization, and only a local anesthetic is applied. The procedure is performed in the office in about an hour. Patients can normally resume regular activity within a day.
- Radiofrequency Ablation Endovenous Therapy (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure for varicose veins in which a vein specialist inserts a tiny catheter through a small incision below the knee. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the diseased vein is treated with a short burst of radiofrequency energy, causing the vessel to shrink around the catheter. The physician will continue to treat each segment until the entire length of the distressed vein has been sealed. After the vein is sealed shut, blood then reroutes to healthy veins. This procedure is performed in-office.
Premier Vein Clinics has the largest group of board certified vascular surgeons in the Knoxville area. If you are experiencing the painful symptoms of varicose veins, take advantage of the free screenings in being offered in January and February only. Request a free consultation online or call Premier Vein Clinics in Knoxville today at (865) 588-8229