Varicose Vein Treatment Center and Spider Vein Treatment Center, Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy

Not every condition related to venous insufficiency requires treatment; you and your doctor should discuss your unique situation and options that are right for you. Treatment of varicose veins ranges from a conservative, lifestyle-based approach to more advanced methods.

Lifestyle Changes

A conservative treatment option for the treatment of varicose veins or venous insufficiency disease is to make lifestyle changes, such as eating less, exercising more, avoiding standing or sitting for long periods, avoiding tight clothes and avoiding high heels. Your doctor may recommend compression stockings. These stockings create gentle pressure up the leg to keep blood from pooling and decrease swelling.

Medical Procedures Vein Ligation and Stripping

Vein stripping and ligation typically is done only for severe cases of varicose veins. Under general anesthesia, all or part of the vein is tied off (called ligation) and pulled out. The legs are bandaged after the surgery; recover time is generally 1 to 4 weeks and commonly involves bruising and swelling during the healing process. Vein stripping and ligation usually is done as an outpatient procedure. The recovery time from the procedure is about 1 to 4 weeks.

Closure Procedure (Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy)

This procedure is an alternative to traditional vein-stripping surgery. It involves using a tiny catheter to heat and collapse veins, essentially closing them off so the body can use other veins to do the same work. These "closed" veins are reabsorbed naturally into the body. The outpatient procedure is conducted with local or general anesthesia and designed to relieve symptoms so patients can resume their normal activity quickly. It commonly has a good cosmetic outcome as well, with minimal to no scarring, bruising or swelling.

Laser Procedure (Endovenous Laser Treatment)

In this procedure, the skin is numbed before treatment and a thin laser fiber is inserted into the vein. Laser energy is emitted through the fiber as it is pulled backward. The energy heats and closes the vein and blood naturally re-routes to a healthy vein. Once the procedure is complete, the physician will place a compression dressing on the treated leg for 2 - 3 days followed by 2 weeks of compression stockings. Under normal conditions the patient may return to work the following day.