Varicose Veins Treatment

What Are Varicose Vein Treatments?

Nearly 30% of adults will develop varicose veins at some point during their life; fortunately, as our understanding of this condition advances, so too does the number of varicose veins treatment options.  

While many cases of varicose veins cause only cosmetic concerns, others result in symptoms that, left untreated, can result in minor to moderate discomfort and in severe cases result in swelling, blood clots, ulcers or open wounds, or internal bleeding from or near the affected vein.

There are many varicose veins treatment options that range from conservative self-care and minimally invasive vein treatments to invasive vein treatments.

Conservative Vein Treatments

Initial conservative varicose veins treatment typically involve self-care practices that can happen at home and encourage specific lifestyle changes designed to reduce pooling of blood in your lower body.  Specific self-care conservative vein treatments include:

• Avoiding sitting or standing for extended periods of time
• Increase circulation through exercise, including walking, stretching, and yoga practice
• Elevate your legs to the level of your heart when seated for extended periods of time

Another conservative varicose veins treatment option is the use of compression socks or compression stockings.  Compression socks are stockings specially designed to improve circulation in the lower legs when worn during the day.

Minimally Invasive Vein Treatments

Varicose veins not responding to self-care treatments are often addressed through minimally invasive ablation varicose veins treatment performed by a medical professional, including:

• Endovenous laser ablation, or EVLT, is a varicose veins treatment that uses a tiny laser to heat, and actually seal off, the vein; this procedure closes off the vein and forces the blood in the vein to safely reroute to other, nearby working veins.

• Similar to EVLT, radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, is another minimally varicose veins treatment used to close off a swollen or twisted vein.  The major difference between RFA and EVLT is that instead of using a laser to close off a vein, RFA uses radio waves transmitted directly into the vein.  

• VenaSeal is a minimally invasive vein closure system designed to treat superficial varicose veins by using an approved medical-grade adhesive to close the vein.  Using ultrasound, a small catheter is inserted into the vein; your doctor will then close the vein by delivering medical grade adhesive to a number of areas throughout the vein.

• Varithena is another minimally invasive varicose veins treatment that uses injectable microfoam to close off a varicose vein.  Varithena also requires ultrasound guidance and closes the vein through 1 to 2 injections of an FDA-approved mediation that safely forms a foam that results in vein closure.

• Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy is often considered the “finishing touch” to varicose vein treatment. It is a type of ablation that uses a chemical solution to close down any remaining branch veins seen after thermal ablation.

Invasive Varicose Vein Treatments

In severe cases, varicose veins require invasive vein treatments.  The two most common invasive varicose veins treatment options are vein stripping and phlebectomy.  

• Vein stripping is typically used on a larger vein, like the superficial great saphenous vein.  During a vein stripping procedure, a series of two to three incisions are made on the leg and the entire vein is removed; the vein is tied off and the incisions are closed with stitches.

• Phlebectomy is considered the “finishing touch” to vein stripping and is used as a smaller varicose veins treatment option.  During a phlebectomy, several tiny incisions are made along the vein; the vein is then removed in several pieces.

Both vein stripping and phlebectomy are considered invasive varicose veins treatment options, but only  vein stripping is  typically performed while the patient is under general anesthesia.