subject: Painful And Unsightly Varicose Veins? - Vein Removal Options For You [print this page] Having varicose veins is not only unattractive to look at but can also be painful for some people. These veins are raised, swollen and large. They have the potential to twist and turn under the skin. They most often can be found in the legs, due to the amount of pressure exerted on them by the weight of the body. For those unhappy and/or uncomfortable with these large veins, there are a variety of veins removal treatments for you to consider.
The simplest solution for enlarged and swollen veins is to wear support stockings that fit your legs properly. Lifestyle changes are also a good idea. If you are in need of losing weight, make an effort to do so. Exercising more frequently, such as taking walks, can be a means of treating varicose veins and also the smaller spider veins.
One of the oldest treatments for vein removal, known as sclerotherapy, is still used today. This procedure has been around since the 1930s and is simple and not terribly expensive. Sclerotherapy can be done in an outpatient setting. This procedure makes use of a highly concentrated saline solution that is injected directly into the offending vein causing it to shrink and no longer be obvious from the surface of the skin. Over a period of three to four weeks the vein gradually disappears from sight.
Another vein removal treatment option is endovenous laser treatment. This procedure is one in which a small laser fiber is inserted carefully into a vein. Laser light pulses are strategically directed into the interior of the vein, which causes it to collapse. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis and is performed under local anesthesia.
If you are looking for another type of vein removal therapy, you might want to consider radiofrequency occlusion. Much like endovenous laser treatment, this kind of treatment to eliminate varicose veins is often done in an outpatient setting and by way of local anesthesia.
In this case, a small catheter is introduced into the vein to be worked on. The catheter transmits radiofrequency energy to the wall of the vein. What this accomplishes is it heats up the vein, thereby causing it to collapse and from there, seal shut.
Surgery is another option for those who suffer from painful varicose veins. One surgical technique is called stripping. This is the removal of a long section of a vein. Another technique is called ligation. When this operation is performed, veins are tied off.
A patient who wants to be treated for very large varicose veins might want to talk to her doctor about a vein removal surgery known as ambulatory phlebectomy. Small incisions are made in the skin and allow for the removal of big veins that are close to the surface. Stitches are not required for this operation. Local anesthesia may be used, or the physician may choose to use spinal or general anesthesia.
