Varicose veins are large, twisted veins, blue or purplish in color that appear typically on the legs and often bulging. They can make the leg feel heavy or swollen and sometimes cause a throbbing pain. That basic description of what they are is enough to show you how unattractive and uncomfortable they are. They affect not only the cosmetic appearance of your legs, but also negatively impacts your self-confidence.
These veins are usually caused by weak muscles that surround the vein. Faulty valves in the veins cause the blood to flow ineffectively, making the blood pool. Varicose veins are more common than what you might think, since around one out of every four adults is affected by it. Pregnant women and overweight people are more susceptible for these veins to emerge, as well as it being a hereditary condition. So even if you’re that one out of four, there are several treatments available to help you rid of those nasty veins and let them fade and disappear, giving you back a pair of sexy, gorgeous legs.
Before, you either just had to live with varicose veins or use a very invasive treatment called stripping, where the vein would be physically pulled out of the leg. But with the advent of laser therapy, there are less invasive and more comfortable options available. Your general practitioner can diagnose your varicose veins and give you a recommendation to see a vascular specialist for treatment.
Here, we’ll give you a breakdown of the most common treatments used.
Sclerotherapy
This treatment is perhaps the most common one and involves a chemical that is injected into the vein. The chemical, Sclerosant, comes as a foam. The foam causes an inflammatory reaction in the vein wall, blocking the vein. During the same session, more than 1 vein can be treated. You would probably be instructed to wear compression socks following the sessions.
Radiofrequency ablation
Here, a small incision is made either above or below the knee. Then a catheter, which is like a narrow tube, is threaded into the vein. A probe is inserted into the catheter and radiofrequency energy is emitted which heats up the varicose veins, allowing the walls around each vein to collapse, and eventually closing and sealing it. Local anesthesia is used and the treatment is often recommended for veins that are of larger size. Endovenous laser treatment: A catheter is involved in this treatment as well, where a small laser is threaded into it. It’s then positioned to target the vein. Short bursts of energy heat that vein, close it and seal it.
Transilluminated powered phlebectomy
This is an endoscopic procedure where an incision is made allowing the practitioner to see which veins need to be taken out. The vein is cut and sucked out through the incision.
Quick and painless
All these treatments are quick with very little downtime. You can be up and about quicker than you think. There’s no reason now to be self-conscious about those veins. With summer just around the corner, it’s time to bring out your minis and shorts and strut those beautiful legs in confidence!
To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.