How Are Varicose Veins Treated?
Goals of Treatment
The goals of treating varicose veins may include
easing symptoms, avoiding complications, and improving cosmetic appearance.
Although treatment can target existing varicose veins, it can't keep new
varicose veins from forming.
Who Needs Treatment
Varicose veins that cause few signs and symptoms
usually dont need to be treated. Instead, your doctor may recommend
simple self-care measures. Varicose veins causing more severe signs and
symptoms may need medical or surgical treatment. Treatment may be recommended
when the varicose veins are causing skin ulcers, serious skin conditions, blood
clots, significant pain, or disruption of daily life activities. Some people
with varicose veins may choose to have medical or surgical treatments to
improve the cosmetic appearance of varicose veins.
Types of Treatment
Self-Care Measures
Self-care measures are a common option for treating
varicose veins. If self-care measures are called for, your doctor may ask you
to:
- Avoid excess amounts of standing when possible.
Take frequent breaks during prolonged periods of standing.
- Elevate your legs when sitting, resting, or
sleeping. Elevating your legs above the level of your heart is very
important.
- Wear compression stockings. These are typically
worn all day long. Doctors may prescribe special-strength stockings or
over-the-counter support stockings, which may be available at pharmacies and
medical supply stores.
- Exercise. Exercise gets the legs moving and
improves muscle tone, which helps the circulation of blood through your
veins.
- Lose weight. Taking off extra pounds may help
with blood circulation and pressure on your veins.
- Avoid wearing tight clothes. Tight clothes,
especially those that are tight around your waist, groin (upper thighs), and
legs, can make varicose veins worse.
Medical and Surgical Treatments
Medical and surgical treatments are used to either
remove varicose veins or close them. Removing or closing varicose veins usually
doesnt create circulation problems because the blood reroutes itself
through other veins. These therapies range from approaches that dont
involve incisions or injections to those that are surgical procedures. It may
be necessary to combine therapies, depending on your condition and
lifestyle.
Sclerotherapy. This procedure uses
a liquid chemical to close off the vein. The solution is injected into the vein
to cause irritation and scarring inside the vein, which causes the vein to
close off and fade away. Its usually used to treat smaller varicose veins
and spider veins. Sclerotherapy is usually done in the doctors office,
while you stand. You may need several sclerotherapy treatments to close off a
vein completely. In this case, treatments are typically given every 4 to 6
weeks. Following treatments, your legs are wrapped in elastic bandaging to help
healing and decrease swelling.
Microsclerotherapy. This procedure
is used to treat spider veins and other very small varicose veins. It involves
injection of small amounts of a liquid chemical using a very fine needle. The
chemical causes scarring in the inner lining of the veins, causing them to
close off.
Laser surgery. This procedure uses
no incisions or injections. Light energy from a laser is used to make the vein
fade away. Laser surgery is typically used to treat smaller varicose veins.
With new technology, lasers are more effective than they used to be.
Endovenous ablation therapy. This
procedure uses an energy source (either laser or radiowave) to create heat to
close off the vein. A tiny incision is made in the skin, and a small catheter
(tube) is inserted into the vein. A device at the tip of the catheter heats up
the inside of the vein, which causes it to close off. Youre awake during
the procedure, but your doctor numbs the area of the vein. You can usually go
home on the same day. You may experience less pain and recover more quickly
with this procedure than with some of the others.
Endoscopic vein surgery. This
procedure uses a tiny camera at the end of a thin tube to move through the
varicose veins. A surgical instrument at the end of the camera is used to close
the veins. Endoscopic vein surgery is currently only used in severe cases in
which there are skin ulcers due to the varicose veins. Only small incisions are
required for this procedure.
Ambulatory phlebectomy. In this
procedure, small varicose veins are removed through small incisions in your
skin. Ambulatory phlebectomy is typically used to treat varicose veins close to
the surface of the skin. Youre awake during the procedure, but your
doctor numbs the area of the vein. You can usually go home the same day.
Vein stripping and ligation. In
this procedure, veins are tied shut (ligation) and removed (stripping) through
small incisions. The procedure is typically used in severe cases, in which the
varicose veins cause pain or skin ulcers. Youre given medicine to sleep
so that you dont feel any pain during the procedure.
What To Expect After Treatment
Recovery times vary based on the specific procedure
thats performed. Vein stripping and ligation requires more recovery than
most other procedures. Activity is not significantly limited following most
other procedures. In fact, walking is often recommended during recovery. Some
treatments may require that you wear compression stockings or bandages for a
period ranging from a couple days to a few weeks following the procedure.
Common side effects immediately following a
procedure may include bruising, swelling, skin discoloration, cramping, and
itching. Swelling and skin discoloration may last for several months. Less
common side effects include blood clots or nerve damage. An uncommon side
effect of sclerotherapy is liquid chemical leaking out of the vein, which could
cause tissue damage or ulcers. |