Varicose veins are a common condition affecting the legs. They can be unsightly and uncomfortable. There are many different ways to treat varicose veins. Some treatments involve surgery, which can be painful and have a long recovery time. Luckily, other options do not require such invasive measures. Read more about the non-invasive treatment for varicose veins below before deciding on getting surgery!
What are Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are common. Varicose veins occur when the valves in your leg don’t work as well as they should, which causes blood to pool and flow backward. The pooled blood is then forced back up into the vein through a valve that’s too small for it to pass through. This pressure creates bulging or twisted veins that may cause pain or itchiness.
Although some varicose veins are harmless, others can be a sign of more serious conditions like deep venous insufficiency (DVI) or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). If you notice any symptoms of these conditions—redness, swelling in your legs, ankle pain without injury—you should see a board-certified vascular surgeon right away.
Invasive Types of Varicose Vein Treatments
Surgical vein procedures either remove or close troublesome vessels and varicose veins. This technique shouldn’t cause further issues because the body starts moving blood through other veins instead of the closed ones.
Surgical Varicose Vein Treatment Types:
- Vein Stripping and Ligation
- Vein stripping and ligation are typically only performed for severe cases of varicose veins. The procedure involves tying shut and removing the veins through small cuts in your skin. This procedure is done while you’re asleep with medicine to numb any pain that may arise from this medical operation. Veins are usually cut open at a hospital as an outpatient procedure.
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy
- For ambulatory phlebectomy, your doctor will make small cuts in your skin to remove the varicose veins closest to the surface of it. You’ll be awake during this procedure, but your doctor will numb the treatment area first. Usually, after getting an ambulatory phlebectomy, most people can go home and rest for about one day before they’re back on their feet again.
Non-invasive Treatment for Varicose Veins
Non-invasive treatments mean your varicose veins are treated without surgery. There are various non-invasive methods to treat varicose veins, from laser therapy to sclerotherapy and more. Your physician can help you find the right method that’s good for your body and lifestyle. Treatment is designed specifically for each patient, which means it is personalized and suitable for each individual’s health needs.
Varicose Vein Treatment Types:
- Sclerotherapy
- With sclerotherapy, a special solution is injected into the affected vein. The solution causes the vein to scar and forces blood to be rerouted toward nearby healthy veins while eventually causing it to collapse and close.
- Saphenous Vein Ablation
- With a radiofrequency, the veins are heated up and then made to seal shut. A saphenous vein ablation procedure is less invasively than surgery. With this technique, your veins get sealed off with heat from a radio frequency device that causes them to collapse. The veins close for good without having any complications. This treatment method is just as effective and far more convenient when compared to surgical options to treat moderate varicose veins.
- Microsclerotherapy
- A microsclerotherapy is very similar to sclerotherapy in that a solution injected into veins causes them to collapse. This treatment is for smaller varicose veins and uses a smaller needle.
- Laser therapy
- Your doctor zaps the varicose veins with bursts of high-intensity light. It’s used mainly for smaller varicose veins and doesn’t require any cuts or needles, so it’s not painful like other treatments.
Why Choose a Non-invasive Treatment for Your Varicose Veins
If your varicose vein issues are not too advanced, a non-invasive procedure can be a great way to remove them quickly and painlessly. While they may remove more veins, surgical procedures will have more prolonged healing and recovery time. With a non-invasive procedure like laser therapy, you can even go right back to work if you need to!
How to Get Rid of Vein Issues Naturally
If your vein issues are still mild, you may be able to correct them naturally, or at the minimum, prevent them from worsening.
- Make sure to wear your compression stockings when you’re on your feet all day. These will help reduce the pain and swelling in varicose veins in the leg. These stockings are made out of thin elastic materials that retain their shape all day long and apply pressure on your calf muscle or ankle when you wear them continuously for 12 hours a day (or as prescribed by your doctor).
- Try natural remedies such as using a cold pack or placing cool, damp cloths on swollen legs at night. The symptoms of varicose veins can be relieved by ice packs, and cooling gel pads applied directly over them for 15 minutes during an attack of discomfort.
- Perform calf exercises regularly to keep blood moving through your body. Exercise is crucial to avoid vein problems and improve circulation so that blood isn’t pooling around the ankles instead of traveling up to the heart.
- Massage with cream containing vitamins C & E after exercise.
- Rest comfortably after extended sitting periods (on a plane, train) with your legs elevated above your heart.
- You’ll also need to stop smoking cigarettes which causes vein walls to compress.
You should always weigh your options before deciding how to treat your varicose veins. Surgery is not the only way to get rid of them, and you may be able to enjoy a quicker recovery and excellent results with a less invasive option. Contact us today for information on how we treat varicose veins at The Vein Centre without painful recovery times. With a consultation, our board-certified vascular surgeons can guide you toward the right procedure for you to correct your vein issues. To schedule an appointment with one of our vein specialists in Belle Meade or Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, call 615.269.9007. We hope this blog post has helped answer any questions you may have had about treatment methods and what non-invasive treatments entail!
