Decades ago, vein surgeries were complicated procedures that required long recovery times. Now, advances in treatment such as laser therapy and radio waves offer safer, less painful interventions that enable more rapid patient recovery compared to traditional approaches.
Varicose veins happen when the valves in your veins weaken, which can cause swelling, pain, and veins that bulge out. Today, there are new treatments that work well and don’t take much time to recover from. Vascular Surgical Associates has experts who can help you get healthier legs that feel better.
Causes of Varicose Veins
The Society for Vascular Surgery estimates that 40 million adults in America have varicose veins. The condition refers to swollen, twisted veins that appear just beneath the surface of the skin, most commonly in the legs. These types of veins develop when the valves inside the veins become weakened or damaged, causing blood to pool and the veins to stretch and bulge.
Factors that make it more likely to get varicose veins include standing or sitting for long periods. This is because your muscles don’t move as much, so they can’t help push blood back to your heart. This leads to increased pressure in the veins.
Other risk factors are:
- Age
- Genetics
- Pregnancy
- Blood clot
Obesity can also contribute to varicose veins, with maintaining a healthy weight being an important way to prevent them.
Varicose veins and spider veins (telangiectatic veins) are related. Both involve faulty vein valves, but spider veins are smaller and closer to the skin’s surface. Treatment for varicose and spider veins includes wearing compression stockings.
Lifestyle changes may also be recommended to help alleviate symptoms. However, medical treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve appearance much more effectively.
Minimally Invasive Varicose Vein Procedures
Today, traditional vein-stripping surgeries are used in only the more severe cases of varicose veins. Most treatments for varicose veins today no longer mean a painful surgery requiring a hospital stay and a prolonged recovery.
Some procedures use laser therapy while others inject foam into the veins. These minimally invasive treatments usually take about an hour and are done in the doctor’s office. You don’t need much time to recover. At Vascular Surgical Associates, we offer advanced treatments like these to help our patients.
Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT)
EVLT uses ultrasound and lasers to eliminate diseased varicose veins. While looking at the vein with a special ultrasound machine, a doctor puts a tiny laser fiber into the vein through a small cut in the skin. The laser closes the bad vein so blood can move through other, healthier veins instead. EVLT is done in the doctor’s office with only local anesthesia.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency ablation is another easy treatment that doctors use a lot to close varicose veins. Rather than using laser energy, the technique uses radiofrequency energy to heat up the wall of the vein.
The heat causes scar tissue to form, which closes off the varicose vein. Like EVLT, a small incision allows for a thin tube, or catheter, to direct the treatment into the vein. RFA can be used to treat large veins in the leg and can also be done in an office setting with just local anesthesia.
Microphlebectomy
A microphlebectomy (ambulatory phlebectomy) treats complex cases that other methods can’t. In this procedure, the doctor removes the bad vein in small pieces using a tiny hook that goes in through little holes in the skin.
Even though the vein is taken out, this procedure is very different from old surgeries because the cuts are very small and you don’t have to be put to sleep. Like EVLT and RFA, a microphlebectomy does not require the use of a scalpel or stitches, and only local anesthesia is needed.
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy
During sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a special foam into the bad vein to close it and help get rid of any pain or discomfort. The foam is very effective in eradicating more hidden sources of vein disease, and it can also treat large areas of veins in the least amount of time.
Doctors often use ultrasound guidance with other treatments like EVLT, RFA, or microphlebectomy. This helps treat hidden varicose veins and also makes it less likely for visible varicose veins to come back.
No Scalpels, No Stitches
These simple, advanced treatments have been proven to safely and effectively treat varicose veins. They are a good choice instead of having surgery to remove the veins. Each of these treatments requires no:
- Scalpels
- Stitches
- Sedation
- Hospitalization
Treatment also involves very little to no pain.
If you need treatment for your varicose veins for medical reasons, insurance will usually pay for it. Not only do patients’ legs look better, but they are finally free from the persistent symptoms of swelling, aching, pain, or heaviness.
Choose Vascular Surgical Associates for Your Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins are a progressive and chronic condition, so it’s wise to seek advice before symptoms take a toll on your health or quality of life. At Vascular Surgical Associates, our expert vein doctors offer many ways to treat varicose veins.
We are experts at treating blood vessel problems like varicose veins at any stage. We help with everything—from teaching you how to prevent them, to checking for them, to giving treatments—so you can stay healthy and active. Our ultrasound experts have decades of experience and are certified in their field.
Do you need varicose vein treatment in the Tri-State area? Contact us today to learn more!
Varicose veins, which result from weakened vein valves, often cause swelling, discomfort, and noticeable bulging. Today’s minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins provide effective relief with minimal recovery time, unlike traditional methods. Vascular Surgical Associates offers specialized, comprehensive care to help you enjoy healthier, more comfortable legs.
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to contact us or schedule an appointment. We are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
