Treatment Options for Varicose Veins
With modern treatment options for varicose veins becoming less and less invasive, more and more individuals are seeking out their options for managing what has become a very manageable condition.
“Well the first thing we want to do is take a look at the individual patient and determine if their lifestyle is impacting their veins and to what extent it’s doing so,” says one dermatologist from Cameron Park. “Exercise, losing weight, avoiding tighter fitting clothes, and avoiding long periods of sitting or standing are all going to be things that we look at. On top of that, compression stockings make it easier for the veins to transmit blood, so sometimes they can be of help too. When that fails, there are other options we can look at.”
“Patients should be aware that each of these procedures involve the collapsing or blocking off of the veins themselves, so being in good health heartwise is going to be a prerequisite for consideration.”
#1. Sclerotherapy
The idea behind sclerotherapy is to collapse the vein by allowing the blood inside it to clot and close. The procedure has been around since the 1930s and is used for the purpose of treating varicose or spider veins. For obvious reasons there are considerable restrictions on a procedure like this, and in the case of sclerotherapy, size does matter. Smaller veins are going to be better candidates for this procedure, and restrictions on ideal candidates may take some patients off the table. For instance, those who have had a blood clot before may not be eligible. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a solution that irritates the vein and causes it to scar and thus close. For larger veins there is a newer technique that involves sealing the vein with a foam.
#2. Laser Surgeries
Laser surgeries can also be used for generally the same purpose and function as sclerotherapy. The idea is the same, but this time lasers are used to close off the vein as opposed to an injectable solution. The procedure works well on smaller veins.
#3. Catheter Assisted Laser Surgery
For larger veins, this is the preferred treatment. It involves the insertion of a catheter into the vein. The tip of the catheter is heated using a laser and then removed, thus collapsing the vein.
“The other methods that are available to us tend to be a bit more invasive,” he said. “We obviously prefer to work with the least invasive surgeries first and then move our way from there.”
Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.
dermatologist Cameron Park