At Premier Vein Clinics, our board certified vascular surgeons have treated more than 10,000 patients, many of whom suffered from the pain and swelling associated with varicose veins. Each one of those patients most likely breathed a sigh of relief during their initial consultation when they learned two facts:
- Advances in medical technology have made varicose vein treatment easier than ever. Long gone are the days of painful vein “stripping” and hospital stays. Most treatments are now in-office, minimally invasive, done usually in under an hour, and require little or no down time.
- Most treatments are covered by insurance, and Premier Vein Clinics in Knoxville has staff members designated to working with each patient’s insurance company to obtain the best possible coverage.
Knowing that varicose vein treatment has never been easier, and that varicose veins do not heal themselves, many patients decide they’ve suffered long enough and are ready to seek treatment. After a thorough diagnosis using ultrasound, one of Premier Vein Clinic’s vascular surgeons may recommend one or more of the following treatments to relieve a patient’s symptoms:
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. Your Premier Vein Clinics physician may recommend that you wear compression stockings, which improve circulation in your legs. Your physician may also recommend that you elevate your legs above your heart for a certain amount of time each day, which also improves circulation and relieves pressure in your legs to help reduce swelling and pain. The added benefit of these measures is they can also prevent or slow the development of further varicose veins.
Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT). EVLT is a minimally invasive treatment well 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 treatment in which a tiny, flexible catheter is inserted through a small incision. Using ultrasound imaging to pinpoint the diseased vein, the physician then uses the catheter to send short bursts of radiofrequency energy to seal off the diseased vein. As with EVLT, blood is then naturally re-routed to the heart through healthy veins.
Sclerotherapy is an in-office, minimally invasive procedure in which abnormal veins are injected with a solution that causes them to collapse. Once the vein collapses and closes down, it is absorbed naturally back into the body. Sclerotherapy may be used after EVLT or RFA to achieve further aesthetic relief of lingering spider veins around previous larger varicose 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. Also a minimally invasive, in-office procedure, the treatment removes the vein in sections through tiny incisions. Ambulatory Phlebectomy may be done in conjunction with RFA or EVLT.
If you experience the painful symptoms of varicose veins, consult one of the board certified vascular surgeons at Premier Vein Clinics in Knoxville. Call (865) 588-8229 to schedule an appointment.