If you have varicose veins and suffer from symptoms that limit your quality of life, you might be afraid of undergoing treatment. You may worry about going through invasive surgery, but that’s no longer necessary. Once you learn how varicose vein treatment has evolved over the past few decades, you’ll be confidently ready to move forward with newer, much less invasive procedures.
Many years ago, vein ligation and stripping was the common treatment for varicose veins. While this is considered minor surgery, it still required general anesthesia, and many patients had to stay overnight in the hospital.
Recovery from vein litigation and stripping can be quite painful, and complications are always a cause for concern. Infections and other issues are possible, including complications from anesthesia. Due to the long recovery time and potential risks, many people chose to live with varicose veins instead of going through surgery.
Fortunately, people no longer have to make that choice.
Now, you can undergo newer minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins. General anesthesia with its side effects and associated complications is no longer necessary. Most treatments are performed with only local anesthetic and take less than 30 minutes. There is the added advantage of being able to go home right after the procedure and return to normal activities the same or following day. Also, minimally invasive treatments have fewer risks and complications, so they are much safer than surgery.
Common treatments for varicose veins include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), sclerotherapy and VenaSeal. These minimally invasive treatments cause the veins to collapse. That means the blood can’t flow through the varicose veins. The body diverts the blood to the healthy veins, returning the circulation of the legs to a more normal pattern.
Once the veins are sealed, they will break down over time and are eventually resorbed by the body over the following weeks and months. The results can be quite dramatic, with resolution of the bulging veins and a more normal appearance of the legs.
These treatments are highly effective, and the same varicose veins won’t come back. However, you could form new varicose veins due to genetics or lifestyle issues. Your varicose vein specialist will explain changes you can make to lower the risk of the veins reoccurring. However, if you do get varicose veins again, you can undergo another minimally invasive treatment. With little downtime and fast recoveries, going through multiple treatments if needed won’t be an issue.
If you have varicose veins, schedule a consultation with Dr. Vinay Madan at the Center for Varicose Veins. Dr. Madan will evaluate you and determine which treatment option is right for you. Dr. Madan offers a full range of minimally invasive treatments and can also educate you on lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of the varicose veins reoccurring.
