Varicose veins have been a menace for decades, and doctors have been trying to find its treatment and relief all through. In the recent past, you only had two options for treating varicose veins; invasive ‘stripping’ surgery or compression therapy. While compression therapy is still used today, extensive surgery is painful and needs a long hospital stay.
However, with the arrival of pain-free, minimally invasive treatments, varicose vein specialist Houston does not recommend the outdated stripping method. Modern varicose vein treatments are minimally invasive and offer quick recovery allowing you to return to normal activities within hours. Here is a look at several viable treatment options you can choose.
Sclerotherapy
This involves the injection of a sclerosant solution into the varicose veins causing scarring and closing of the veins. These injections are made using ultrasound guidance. These veins fade away in some weeks. This procedure does not need anesthesia and is easily done in a health care office.
According to observational studies, the success rates of Sclerotherapy are 82% to 100%, and the recovery is faster than conventional surgery. The procedure takes around an hour, and you can return home or continue your routine activities immediately after the treatment.
Endovenous Thermoablation
This minimally invasive approach is a catheter-based procedure. Thermal energy is delivered onto the venous wall and induces inflammation response and subsequent vein closure. The benefits of this procedure include faster recovery, no surgical incision, no need for hospital admission, and immediate resumption of daily activity.
Compression stockings are recommended after the procedure to decrease the risk of skin contusion. The socks help the veins to move blood more conveniently, reducing the severity of varicose veins.
Radiofrequency Ablation
This technique has been used since 1998. As the name implies, it uses radiofrequency energy to damage the varicose veins, fading away. Strong bursts of light onto the vein make the vein slowly disappear and fade. No needles or cuts are used.
It is a safe and effective treatment for incompetent veins and can be performed as a minimally invasive procedure. The advantages of radiofrequency ablation include reduced pain, low complication rate, and high vein occlusion rates.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy Treatment
This is another effective nonsurgical treatment for eliminating varicose veins. The technique uses tiny incisions to remove the veins through the surface of your leg. A tiny nick is made on the surface of the varicose veins, and the vein is removed via a specialized tool.
This procedure is often used in treating bigger varicose veins and can be an alternate option when Sclerotherapy is unsuccessful. The recommended indications for this technique are varicose veins of the foot, knee pit, and ankle.
VenaSeal and Varithena
VenaSeal is the medical-grade glue placed in varicose veins using a small catheter, sealing the vein wall together. The doctor uses a medical adhesive and catheter to seal the varicose veins non-surgically. In several hours, the treated vein permanently hardens over and eventually gets absorbed by the body.
On the other hand, the Varithena procedure involves injecting a drug into the varicose veins directly. The doctor administers a little amount of the drug into the varicose vein. The drug fills and collapses the varicose vessels to decrease their appearance.
It is wrong to suffer from debilitating or embarrassing varicose veins while there are effective minimally invasive treatments. Although every procedure uses a different technique, they all eradicate varicose veins in the same way. These minimally invasive techniques make the blood vessels collapse and become scar tissue that eventually gets eliminated from the body.
However, it is worth noting that each patient is different. While some patients only require a single treatment, some might require additional treatments. The doctor might recommend lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, avoiding standing or sitting for long, stopping smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
