When you have varicose veins that are causing you embarrassment and physical discomfort, you want to be able to get rid of them as quickly and painlessly as possible. Fortunately, there are many options at your disposal today. At Windward Vein, we offer a variety of veins treatments that allow us to tailor each treatment to the specific needs of our patients. Here are a few tips to help you understand which procedure will likely work the best for you.
Small Varicose Veins
Small varicose veins that are close to the skin’s surface may not be accompanied by any uncomfortable symptoms, but they can be a cosmetic nuisance. In most cases, the gold standard in removing these veins is an injectable treatment known as sclerotherapy. The procedure uses a very fine needle to administer a sterile solution directly into the affected vein. This solution irritates the lining of the vessel so it seals closed. The vein is absorbed by the body over time and blood naturally reroutes to healthy veins nearby.
Another option for smaller veins is a revolutionary procedure known as VenaSeal. Performed in a similar fashion to sclerotherapy, this procedure uses a needle to deliver a medical-grade adhesive into the vessel. The adhesive hardens inside the vein and seals it closed so the vein collapses. Like sclerotherapy, this procedure allows the treated vein to be eliminated by the body and blood flow is redirected through healthy veins in the same area.
Larger and Deeper Varicose Veins
Larger varicose veins and those that are located deeper beneath the skin’s surface can be treated with the following non-surgical procedures:
- Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy – adds ultrasound imaging to the sclerotherapy process so deeper veins can be easily located for treatment
- Radiofrequency Ablation – uses radiofrequency energy delivered directly into the vein to collapse the vessel
- Laser Therapy – works in a similar fashion to Venefit, only laser energy is used instead of RF energy
- Clarivein – combines a sclerosing agent with mechanical agitation to more completely cover the interior of the vessel for more effective treatment of larger veins
Large, Bulging Varicose Veins
Even large, bulging varicose veins can be treated successfully without surgery today. A minimally-invasive procedure known as ambulatory phlebectomy is often recommended for this purpose. This treatment, which is performed using local anesthetic, involves a series of micro-incisions made down the length of the protruding vessel. A special hook can then be inserted to remove the diseased vein in small sections.
Ambulatory phlebectomy is performed in less than one hour in most cases. The incisions are too small to require sutures afterward and will not leave any residual scarring on the leg. Most patients can return to regular activities the same day or the day after treatment.
The one treatment you won’t see on the list is traditional vein stripping. This surgical procedure used to be the procedure of choice for removing varicose veins, but involved a hospital stay, significant discomfort and an extended recovery period. The procedures that have replaced this surgery today have allowed patients to enjoy the same positive results, but without general anesthesia, pain and downtime.
Don’t suffer with your varicose veins any longer. Contact Windward Vein today at 808-797-2687 today to find out which vein treatment is right for you.