Treatment FAQ

what is a treatment for varicose veins

by Tremaine Padberg DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Larger varicose veins are generally treated with ligation and stripping, laser treatment, or radiofrequency treatment. In some cases, a combination of treatments may work best. Smaller varicose veins and spider veins are usually treated with sclerotherapy or laser therapy on your skin.

Procedures

The size of your varicose veins affects your treatment options. Larger varicose veins are generally treated with ligation and stripping, laser treatment, or radiofrequency treatment. In some cases, a combination of treatments may work best. Smaller varicose veins and spider veins are usually treated with sclerotherapy or laser therapy on your skin. Some people may want to improve …

Self-care

There is not enough evidence to determine if compression stockings are effective in the treatment of varicose veins in the absence of active or healed venous ulcers. Interventional treatments include external laser thermal ablation, endovenous …

See more

This involves using energy either from high-frequency radio waves (radiofrequency ablation) or lasers (endovenous laser treatment) to seal the affected veins. Radiofrequency ablation Radiofrequency ablation involves heating the wall of your …

What can I do to reduce varicose veins?

VenaSeal is an innovative minimally invasive medical procedure used to treat varicose veins. In this procedure, a bio-adhesive called cyanoacrylate is inserted into the diseased veins using a small catheter. The adhesive seals the affected veins off and stops blood from flowing through them. Blood flow is instead redirected towards healthier veins.

What are your best options for varicose veins?

Nov 07, 2021 · Treatment – what treatment will I be offered for varicose veins? There are lots of different options for treating varicose veins. These could include the following: Surgery for varicose veins. Varicose vein surgery is minimally invasive and works by sealing shut or removing the damaged vein so that blood is redirected to heathy veins instead.

How much does it cost for varicose veins treatment?

One of the most common procedures that prove to be very efficient against varicose veins is laser vein treatment. The science behind the procedure is quite simple. Dermatologists direct the laser light at the vein. The heat from the laser damages the vein walls and seals the vein. Thus, the vein gets closed and loses its source of blood.

What are varicose veins and how are they treated?

Apr 08, 2022 · EVLA is a revolutionary procedure to treat varicose veins using a laser. The laser warms and destroys the vein's lining, causing it to collapse, shrivel, and eventually disappear. This treatment can treat large varicose veins in the legs, and the …

image

What is the best non surgical treatment for varicose veins?

Varicose vein - noninvasive treatmentSclerotherapy works best for spider veins. These are small varicose veins.Laser treatment can be used on the surface of the skin. Small bursts of light make small varicose veins disappear.Phlebectomy treats surface varicose veins. ... Ablation uses intense heat to treat the vein.Jan 28, 2021

What is the safest treatment for varicose veins?

VenaSeal, one of the newest varicose vein removal treatments available, is a proprietary adhesive used to close troublesome superficial veins. It is an FDA-approved and medical grade product designed to be gentle, flexible, and harmless.Nov 12, 2021

What is the most effective treatment for varicose veins?

Sclerotherapy: This is the most common treatment for leg veins. Over the years, dermatologists have improved sclerotherapy to make it safer and give patients better results. Today, dermatologists use it to treat spider and small varicose veins.

Is walking good for varicose veins?

Walking is especially good for people who suffer from varicose veins, due to the fact that walking is a very low-impact workout. There is no jarring or pounding of your legs — just a simple movement that helps strengthen your calf muscles without straining your body.

How do I get rid of varicose veins on my legs permanently?

Surgeries or other proceduresSclerotherapy. A health care provider injects the varicose veins with a solution or foam that scars and closes those veins. ... Laser treatment. ... Catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy. ... High ligation and vein stripping. ... Ambulatory phlebectomy (fluh-BEK-tuh-me).Mar 3, 2022

What happens if varicose veins are left untreated?

Left Untreated Increased pain and swelling – When varicose veins go untreated, the veins continue to get more damaged, which ends up making the pain worse and the legs swollen. Prolonged symptoms.

Do varicose veins go away?

Varicose and spider veins do not just go away on their own, but they can sometimes become less visible. You may also find that symptoms temporarily go away at times, particularly if you lose weight or increase physical activity. However, your vein symptoms will likely return over time.Dec 11, 2020

Can you reverse varicose veins naturally?

Treating varicose veins at home is possible, and diet and lifestyle changes may improve the symptoms. People with severe varicose veins may wish to seek medical treatments to help reduce their appearance and improve symptoms.

How to treat varicose veins?

Home treatment may be all you need to ease your symptoms and keep the varicose veins from getting worse. You can: 1 Wear compression stockings. 2 Prop up (elevate) your legs. 3 Avoid long periods of sitting or standing. 4 Get plenty of exercise.

What is the treatment for spider veins?

Laser treatment. Laser energy is used to scar and destroy varicose veins. This is called ablation. Simple laser therapy is done on small veins close to the skin, such as spider veins. The laser is used outside of your skin. Endovenous laser therapy uses a laser fiber inserted into the vein.

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?

Symptoms of varicose veins include a heavy, achy feeling and an itching or burning sensation ; these symptoms worsen with prolonged standing. Potential complications include infection, leg ulcers, stasis changes, and thrombosis.

Where are varicose veins located?

Varicose Veins: Diagnosis and Treatment. Varicose veins are twisted, dilated veins most commonly located on the lower extremities. The exact pathophysiology is debated, but it involves a genetic predisposition, incompetent valves, weakened vascular walls, and increased intravenous pressure.

What is the treatment for veins?

Endothermal ablation. One of the first treatments offered will usually be endothermal ablation. This involves using energy either from high-frequency radio waves (radiofrequency ablation) or lasers (endovenous laser treatment) to seal the affected veins.

What is the procedure to remove varicose veins?

Surgery. If endothermal ablation treatments and sclerotherapy are unsuitable for you, you'll usually be offered a surgical procedure called ligation and stripping to remove the affected veins. Varicose vein surgery is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you will be asleep during the procedure.

How does radiofrequency ablation work?

Radiofrequency ablation may be carried out under local anaesthetic (you are awake) or general anaesthetic where you're asleep.

What is endovenous laser treatment?

As with radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser treatment involves having a catheter inserted into your vein and using an ultrasound scan to guide it into the correct position. A tiny laser is passed through the catheter and positioned at the top of your varicose vein.

How long does it take for varicose veins to fade?

After sclerotherapy, your varicose veins should begin to fade after a few weeks as stronger veins take over the role of the damaged vein, which is no longer filled with blood. You may require treatment more than once before the vein fades, and there's a chance the vein may reappear.

Do stockings help with varicose veins?

They may help relieve the pain, discomfort and swelling in your legs caused by your varicose veins. But it's not known whether the stockings help prevent your varicose veins getting worse , or if they prevent new varicose veins appearing.

Can compression stockings be used for varicose veins?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) only recommends using compression stockings as a long-term treatment for varicose veins if all other treatments are not suitable for you.

What to do if your veins hurt?

If your varicose veins are causing pain, heaviness or itching, make an appointment at your GP practice. It might be useful to keep a diary of symptoms that include the things that improve or worsen the symptoms and the time of day that they happen.

Where do varicose veins appear?

They can develop anywhere in the body, but are often found around the legs and ankles.

Why do my legs feel swollen?

Varicose veins can make our legs painful, heavy, itchy and swollen. This is because of how blood is pumped around our legs.

Why do veins swell?

The pressure in our veins becomes higher than the pressure in our arteries and the blood flows backwards and collects in the vein. This makes the vein swollen and enlarged.

How does blood return to the heart?

It returns to your heart through your veins. Your blood is then propelled back to our heart by our heart pumping and by it being pushed by our leg and foot muscles as we walk and move our ankles. Our veins contain one-way valves to stop the blood falling back towards your toes. These valves can become weak or damaged.

How to help with varicose veins?

If a person has varicose veins, they can try the following home remedies to help manage the condition and improve symptoms: 1. Exercise. Regular exercise encourages better blood circulation in the legs, which helps to push along the blood that has collected in the veins.

How to help veins in legs?

A person may find that their circulation is improved by wearing loose-fitting clothes that do not restrict the blood supply to the lower body. Wearing flat shoes instead of high heels may also help with varicose veins in the legs. 8.

Why do veins look purple?

Varicose veins have a dark blue or purple appearance and may bulge out from underneath the skin. Varicose veins can develop when small valves in the veins become weak. These valves usually stop blood flowing backward through the veins, and when they are damaged blood can pool in the veins.

Does horse chestnut extract help with leg pain?

A review study from 2006 suggests that horse chestnut extract, Aesculus hippocastanum L., may help to reduce leg pain, heaviness, and itching in people with chronic venous insufficiency, which is a major cause of varicose veins. Aesculus hippocastanum L. is available to purchase in health stores and online.

How to improve circulation in legs?

Keeping the legs elevated, ideally at the same height as the heart or above it will help to improve circulation . This reduces the pressure in the leg veins and gravity will help the blood to flow smoothly back to the heart.

Can you treat varicose veins at home?

Varicose veins can cause discomfort and make a person feel self-conscious. Treating varicose veins at home is possible, and diet and lifestyle changes may improve the symptoms. People with severe varicose veins may wish to seek medical treatments to help reduce their appearance and improve symptoms.

How to keep blood flowing through veins?

Massage. Gently massaging the affected areas can help to keep the blood moving through the veins. A person can use gentle massage oils or moisturizer for optimal effects. It is crucial to avoid pressing directly onto the veins, however, as this may damage fragile tissues.

image

Treatment

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Alternative Medicine

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment involves self care, medications of underlying cause and surgery in severe cases. Varicose veins during pregnancy will usually resolve itself after the delivery.
Procedures

Sclerotherapy: Foam solution is injected into the large vein to close the vein and seal it.

Laser surgery: Strong bursts of light onto the vein, which makes veins fade and disappear.

Catheter assisted procedure: Catheter insertion, heating it and destroying the vein to collapse and seal.

Vein stripping: Tying a vein before it joins a deep vein and removing through small incision.

Ambulatory phlebectomy: Doctor removes varicose vein by series of punctures.

Endoscopic perforator vein surgery: To visualize and close varicose veins and remove the veins through small incisions.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

Exercise and weight loss, climbing stairs, compression stockings improves the symptoms.

Specialist to consult

Phlebologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of venous origin.
Cardiologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and management heart related disorders.
Dermatologist
Specializes in the study of the skin and its disorders.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9