5 Varicose Veins Treatments That Are Minimally Invasive

Blog Post
By BASS Vein Center
5 Varicose Veins Treatments That Are Minimally Invasive
October 19, 2023

Venous insufficiency, varicose veins, and spider veins all have different impacts on our daily life. The cosmetic damage they do can leave you feeling self-conscious as if everyone is staring at your skin. The physical damage can be just as hurtful, with swelling, aches, itching, and pain throughout the skin. While there are many reasons to seek treatment, there are just as many, if not more, minimally invasive options at your disposal. If you need to know how to get rid of varicose veins, consider these 5 options. 

Conservative Therapy

Varicose veins can cause discomfort, but there's good news – conservative therapy offers relief without invasive procedures. Implementing simple measures at home and in your daily routine can make a difference:

  • Leg Elevation: Elevate your legs above heart level to reduce swelling and improve blood flow. Take short breaks to elevate and rest your legs throughout the day.
  • Compression Stockings: Wear specially designed compression stockings to enhance blood circulation and alleviate symptoms. Consult a healthcare professional to find the right type and compression level for you.
  • Active Lifestyle: Engage in regular low-impact exercises like walking to promote better circulation and maintain a healthy weight, reducing strain on your veins.
  • Avoid Prolonged Standing or Sitting: Take breaks, move around, and change positions frequently to prevent blood pooling in your legs.

By adopting these conservative therapy practices, you can manage mild to moderate varicose veins effectively. 

Radio Frequency Ablation 

This varicose veins treatment utilizes precise, focused radio-frequency energy. A small catheter is inserted into the vein, then heated. The heat from the radio-frequency energy running through the catheter shrinks and collapses the malfunctioning portion of the vein, sealing it off from the rest of its healthier network. Over time, the vein will go away on its own. Radio frequency ablation treatment is often used on larger veins in the legs and is performed in-office with local anesthesia to numb the affected area where the incision will be made. The treatment and recovery time are both short.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy 

A treatment by many names, such as micro-phlebectomy or “hook” phlebectomy, ambulatory phlebectomy is a micro-extraction procedure that removes the bulging varicose veins—large and small—that are close to the skin’s surface. Because the vein is removed entirely, all aches and pains and other associated symptoms are removed with it. For a surgical procedure, it is one of the most minimally invasive, as it only requires small incisions and a local anesthetic. This means no overnight stay at the hospital is needed!

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is an ultrasound-guided procedure that targets and eliminates varicose veins hidden deep beneath the skin, those that have not presented close to the skin’s surface. A solution is injected into the affected area, making the vein scar. The blood naturally reroutes to healthier veins, while the injected vein collapses and is absorbed into the body, then fades away over time. It is an effective treatment for cosmetic purposes, but also improves symptoms of more severe vein cases, reducing aching, swelling, burning, and cramps. Injected sites will sometimes experience temporary bruising, small sores, redness and swelling, darkened skin, and small red blood vessels appearing around the area.

VenaSeal

Other treatment options will sometimes require numbing or anesthesia to treat the affected area, but VenaSeal is an exception. It is not as invasive as other treatments for varicose veins, and does not require immediate post-treatment plans involving compression stockings or medication. A small amount of cyanoacrylate, or medical glue, is placed into a catheter, and when the vein is closed it naturally redirects blood to other, healthy veins. The procedure is quick and easy! You can return to your usual activities on the same day, then resume normal exercise within 48 hours of the treatment. An ultrasound will also be scheduled for a few weeks after your treatment to ensure the veins have been treated appropriately. 

Are you tired of dealing with your varicose veins and their accompanying symptoms? If you are in the Antioch, Alamo, Brentwood, Concord, Castro Valley, Oakland, Walnut Creek, or East Bay areas and are interested in these treatments, call us today. You can contact the BASS Vein Center to connect with our team and discuss your treatment options for varicose veins.

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