Home > What are the Treatments for Varicose Veins?
Updated on May 23, 2023 by Dr. Jonathan Arad (Vein Doctor) of Vein Care Center
Varicose veins are common cosmetic concerns involving the appearance of red or blue enlarged veins at the legs. Many patients dread the development of these unsightly veins because they are difficult to treat with at-home topical products. Varicose veins can also cause pain, dry skin, and heaviness in the legs. If left unmanaged, they may even result in serious reactions. Because of these, patients seek interventional solutions.
So what are the treatments for varicose veins? Interventional treatments for resolving varicose veins include sclerotherapy, micro-phlebectomy, laser therapy, endovenous ablation, and varicose vein ligation and stripping. Wearing compression stockings to aid blood flow is also a recommended therapy. For immediate pain relief caused by varicose veins, patients may take NSAIDs or put on a cold compress or anti-inflammatory creams.
Treatments that target the veins offer promising results for varicose veins. This is because this condition is caused by blood flowing back and pooling at the legs due to weak or damaged vein valves.
Blood from the rest of the body flows through the veins. It returns to the heart to receive oxygen and maintain proper circulation and oxygen distribution. Valves prevent deoxygenated blood from flowing back. When they become faulty, blood collects in the veins, causing them to stretch, become twisted, or be enlarged.
Some factors that increase your risk of developing varicose veins are:
If you fall into any of these categories with a high risk of developing varicose veins, you may want to start preventing them by improving your diet and physical activity. You may also consult a vein specialist at the Vein Care Center to learn more about your health and varicose veins.
If you’ve recently noticed varicose veins in your legs, you may wonder if they go away on their own. The quick answer is no — it doesn’t. It only becomes self-limiting sometimes when you’re pregnant or obese, where the appearance of the veins is caused by added pressure on the belly. Once you’ve given birth or lost weight, the pressure on the veins might alleviate, reducing the appearance of varicose veins.
But it’s important to note that varicose veins mostly don’t go away on their own. You’ll need more interventional solutions, going deep under the skin to resolve venous problems causing them. This goes beyond at-home topical products and requires the help of a trusted professional. You may need these treatments, especially if you’ve been experiencing severe pain, heavy feelings in the legs, and other serious discomforts.
There are various options for managing or removing varicose veins. Interventional procedures from the Vein Care Center and other treatments resolve venous problems causing the appearance of these bulging veins. You can also try some ways to relieve the discomfort caused by varicose veins immediately. Patients with mild cases or seeking prevention may also check out recommended home remedies.
Varicose veins are primarily caused by problems in the veins, leaving only the right procedures to resolve them. The Vein Care Center is one of the best clinics for treating varicose veins, including spider veins and leg ulcers. With their board-certified specialists and advanced equipment, their solutions include sclerotherapy, micro-phlebectomy, and endoluminal laser ablation therapy.
Sclerotherapy is a nonsurgical treatment for spider veins and small varicose veins. This in-procedure involves injecting a sclerosing agent into the affected vein. The solution will then leave scarring on the vein due to irritating its lining. The blood then reroutes to other healthier blood vessels. The treated vein eventually collapses and gets absorbed by nearby tissues until it completely fades.
Patients seeking to resolve varicose veins for cosmetic reasons may rely on sclerotherapy. You can expect a few side effects that usually resolve on their own after a few days to several weeks.
These adverse reactions include:
The results from sclerotherapy usually appear within 3 to 6 weeks for small treatment areas. Patients with large varicose veins may notice results within 3 to 4 months with multiple treatments.
Unlike sclerotherapy which involves closing the veins, micro-phlebectomy takes a different approach. Patients experience relief from varicose veins from this minimally invasive treatment as it removes the veins lying underneath the skin’s surface with a small needle or scalpel.
Also called ambulatory phlebectomy or stab avulsion, micro-phlebectomy involves creating stab incisions or a series of tiny cuts in the skin, where the medical professional removes the affected vein piece by piece. These incisions are small enough to not require stitches.
Micro-phlebectomy treatment usually involves local anesthesia to reduce pain from the procedure. It’s a reliable solution for patients with small to medium-sized varicose veins. While it’s a more invasive procedure than sclerotherapy, it only requires minimal downtime, allowing patients to return to their daily activities the following day.
Board-certified specialists at the Vein Care Center recommend wearing compression stockings or bandages throughout the healing process. You may also expect some self-limiting side effects, like bruising and swelling.
Laser treatments for varicose veins removal may be done outside the skin or directly into the veins. The Vein Care Center offers Endoluminal Laser Ablation of the Greater Saphenous Vein or ELAS treatment. This FDA-approved treatment option involves using laser energy to apply heat to the affected vein to cause scarring and eventual shrinking, causing the blood to reroute to other veins.
The ELAS treatment is also a minimally invasive treatment with fewer adverse reactions. The procedure starts by inserting a fiber into your greater saphenous vein. The vein specialist will then use the device to deliver laser beams through the fiber. This causes a reaction on the wall lining of the veins, which scars and shrinks eventually. Once the affected veins are closed, the blood will then run through a healthier vein.
The ELAS treatment at the Vein Care Center lasts for about 45 minutes, and your leg will receive local anesthesia to reduce discomfort from the procedure. Our vein specialists will instruct patients to wear compression bandages on their legs. While they can go about their daily routine after the treatment session, patients must avoid vigorous exercise and other activities for a week.
There are also other treatment options for varicose veins available, which can be similar to the solutions at the Vein Care Center. These procedures include laser therapy, endovenous radiofrequency ablation, and varicose vein ligation and stripping.
Like ELAS treatment, laser therapy also uses laser energy to close the affected vein by applying heat, causing scarring. But this option is a simple procedure done outside the skin, treating small varicose veins and spider veins. It’s commonly preferred for varicose veins located under the surface of the skin.
The endovenous radiofrequency ablation is similar to the endovenous laser treatment, except that it uses radiofrequency or RF energy to apply heat. The procedure also involves targeting the affected vein’s wall linings via a catheter.
Varicose vein ligation and stripping is a more invasive option than the other varicose vein solutions mentioned. The classical method of this minor surgery involves tying your varicose veins and removing them from your legs, allowing the blood to flow to other healthier veins.
Patients having this treatment option can expect to receive general anesthesia to make them unconscious or sedatives with localized anesthesia. When having this procedure, you may want to have a companion to drive you home. You may also need to tend to your incisions, wear compression garments, and elevate your leg as much as possible throughout the healing process.
Aside from being a cosmetic concern, varicose veins may also cause pain in the legs as one of the symptoms. The discomfort is similar to experiencing muscle cramps or having heavy, swollen legs.
Some of the things you can do to relieve pain immediately are:
These solutions may reduce slight discomfort, but they won’t remove the appearance of varicose veins. While they can help prevent pain or keep your varicose veins from worsening, they also won’t ensure permanent relief.
You may also try out different home remedies to reduce the symptoms of your varicose veins. These steps include a few lifestyle changes that can help prevent the development of bulging veins.
So if you think you’re at risk of having varicose veins, you may consider:
These home remedies can keep your varicose veins from worsening. But it’s important to note that these at-home treatments won’t completely resolve this vein disease. To remove varicose veins, you may still need to undergo any of the treatments mentioned above, as advised by your specialist.
Varicose veins are enlarged, bulging veins, usually at the legs. Since they’re caused by blood collecting in your veins, they can only be resolved by interventional procedures targeting the affected areas. These include sclerotherapy, micro-phlebectomy, endovenous ablation, laser treatment, and vein surgery. You may want to choose a reliable healthcare provider for these treatments to ensure a safe and effective procedure.
Vein Care Center is one of the best clinics for providing a wealth of procedures to patients with varicose veins. You can expect to be under the care of our board-certified vein specialists equipped with advanced technology and techniques. Get started on life without varicose veins today. Book an appointment today by visiting one of our clinics, filling out a quote, or giving us a call.