Varicose veins can be a nuisance for both men and women. They can cause pain or discomfort and make one embarrassed by their appearance. Did you know that there are treatments to help with varicose veins? There are some extremely effective methods out there to alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins and decrease their outward appearance on the body. Here’s our roundup of three of the best varicose vein treatments around including vein ablation, sclerotherapy, and ambulatory phlebectomy.
1. Vein Ablation
A vein ablation is a therapy performed in-office and uses radiofrequency or endovenous lasers applied through a catheter to close up bad veins. Moving a little bit at a time through the problematic vein, radiofrequency energy destroys the surrounding tissue of the vein and closes it up.
By using this method of varicose vein treatment, you should experience little pain.
After having a vein ablation there may be some slight bruising, swelling or tenderness at the site of treatment. A compression stocking should be worn afterwards to place the appropriate amount of pressure on the site of the procedure to help speed up recovery time. Wearing your compression stocking will be essential towards recovery so be sure you ask your doctor how long and how often you need to wear your compression stocking.
2. Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is another in-office procedure that is often used on less visible veins that are too complicated to treat with a catheter. These veins are usually twisted which makes using a catheter nearly impossible to reach it properly. An extremely fine needle is then used to inject a specialized foam medication into the vein to shut it down. The foam works its way through the vein and causes scarring of the vein walls which causes it to shut down. The entire procedure should take anywhere from about 15 minutes to a half hour. The amount of time may also depend on the size and location of the veins that are being treated.
After your foam sclerotherapy treatment, the use of a compression stocking will be required to help place pressure on the treated vessels. Your doctor or another member of the medical staff will give you specific information on how long and how often you need to wear your compression stocking. You may experience some itching and swelling after your sclerotherapy treatment.
3. Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Treating veins with an ambulatory phlebectomy is another in-office procedure that uses small incisions to remove each problematic vein. The patient is under anesthesia during the procedure as the veins are being removed, so there is no risk of the patient feeling any pain during the procedure. This form of treatment takes about 45 to 60 minutes and causes minor temporary bruising and swelling.
A compression stocking will need to be worn after having an ambulatory phlebectomy to minimize discomfort and pain after the procedure. Your medical team should be able to provide more details on how long you should wear your compression stocking. Other than minimal side effects, you should be able to return to your day-to-day life immediately after your procedure.
After Your Procedure: Avoiding Blood Clots
After your treatment, you want to make sure you avoid blood clots to the best of your ability. As mentioned before, wearing a compression stocking or different kind of elastic hosiery can help prevent blood clots from forming. Walking around periodically throughout the day helps improve circulation and prevents blood clots from forming as well. Would you like to quit smoking? There are some huge benefits to kicking the habit. Smoking can increase the chances of platelets sticking together and can damage the inner lining of blood vessels. Smoking has also been linked to an increased risk of developing venous diseases. Following these overall lifestyle changes can improve your health and decrease your risk of blood clots.
Further Prevention Of Varicose Veins
There are self-care methods you can do to help decrease the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs and arms, as well as prevent new ones from forming.
- Regular exercise
Take a look at our previous blog discussing exercises for varicose veins. There are a number of fun activities—like jogging and swimming—that can help you to make sure you are doing your best to decrease your chances of developing new varicose veins. You can also get relief from the symptoms of current vein issues already present.
- Daily diet
As an overall habit that positively benefits your health, you should stick to a well balanced diet. This means consuming foods that are stocked with essential vitamins and minerals such as lean meats, moderate amounts of dairy, fruits, vegetables, and preferably whole grains. It helps to cut back on sodium and sugar to reduce inflammation, high blood pressure, and excessive weight gain.
- Comfortable attire
Try to wear clothing that is breathable. A wardrobe that is too constricting may block proper blood flow moving throughout your body. It also helps to wear shoes that fit comfortably and cushion your weight with each step. Selecting shoes with a supportive fit can take some of the pressure off of your legs and feet.
- Get moving
This is especially important if you work in an office setting where you are sitting for most of the day. Be sure to get up, walk around, and stretch throughout the day whenever you can to help prevent varicose veins and improve blood circulation.
If you are actively looking for best varicose vein treatments, consider scheduling an appointment today at one of our several Vital Heart & Vein locations. From varicose vein treatment options to information on how to better take care of your heart and so much more, check back at our blog each month for amazing tips and tricks to keeping heart healthy all year long.