Varicose veins are swollen, twisted and enlarged veins, which often appear in blue or dark purple. They occur because the valves in the veins do not work properly causing the blood flow to be ineffective. According to recent studies, more than twenty-three percent of all adults are affected by this blood flow problem. In addition to that, around 1 in 4 adults in the US are affected by varicose veins. Symptoms of this disease might include aching legs, spider veins, and swollen ankles. Pregnant women and the ones with extra weight are more prone to this type of problem.
If taking health reasons into considerations, varicose veins rarely require treatment. However, if the person experiences symptoms such as swelling, aching or pain in legs, treatment might be necessary. Treatment is usually done to relieve pain and reduce discomfort. In some cases, treatment should be performed for the purpose of addressing complications such as leg ulcers, skin discoloration and/or swelling. Apart from that, some patients might be willing to undergo treatment in order to get rid of the ugly appearance of varicose veins. The following section focuses on the main treatment solutions for varicose veins.
Surgery
The decision whether a patient needs surgery highly depends on the size of varicose veins. If the veins are too large, you will need to consult with a varicose vein treatment center in order to decide on a surgery day. This procedure is typically performed with the use of a general anesthetic. If surgery needs to be done on both legs, then you will need to stay at the vein center for one day. In other cases, you will be able to leave on the same day. There are also laser vein removal centers that focus their attention on the smaller vein removal and spider veins. This is accomplished by applying strong bursts of light to the vein, which then steadily disappear.
Stripping and ligation
This procedure involves two incisions. One is made near the groin at the top of the target vein and the second one is made further down the leg. In this case, the top part of the vein is tied up and sealed. A flexible wire is threaded through the bottom of the vein and then pulled out, taking the vein with it. In the vast majority of cases, this procedure does not involve your stay at the varicose vein treatment center. As a result of this process, a person may encounter bleeding, bruising and pain. Before returning to daily activities, a patient will need 1 to 3 weeks of recovery. Compression stockings are generally worn during the healing stage.
Radiofrequency ablation
One incision is needed during this process, either below or above the knee. A narrow tube (catheter) is threaded into the vein with the help of an ultrasound scan. The next step is inserting a probe into the catheter, which emanates radiofrequency energy. The aforestated energy will heat up the vein, leading its walls to collapse. People normally undergo this procedure under local anesthetic and is often preferred for large varicose veins.
Transilluminated powered phlebectomy
This is a process involves a special light (endoscopic transilluminator). This light is threaded through an incision. Specialists use it to understand which veins need to be taken out. A suction device will then assist in the removal of the target veins. Depending on the patient, general and local anesthetic may be used for this procedure. Additionally, people might experience some bruising and bleeding after the operation.
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