The Basics of Varicose Vein Treatments

July 26, 2012 - PRLog -- Chandler, AZ, 7/26/12 - Varicose veins come in many shapes and sizes but one thing remains constant, and that is that most people with varicose veins want to have them treated. Varicose veins can be painful, unsightly, unhealthy, and even embarrassing. For most people that suffer from these veins the number one question is, of all of the treatments which are the right ones for me? Obviously anyone with that question should consult a vein specialist and find a treatment plan especially for them, but it can’t hurt to do a little research on your own.

I am choosing to focus on four of the main treatment options for varicose veins. They include compression stockings, sclerotherapy, endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), and phlebectomy. Each of these procedures can be extremely effective depending on your individual case. I know that there are a million other articles on each of these procedures and I highly encourage you to seek those out and learn as much as you can about them. It is my hope that this article not give you every detail you need but that you gain a foundation so that you will have a basic understanding to build other knowledge upon.  

The first and most basic treatment for varicose veins is that of compression stockings. These are essentially like all other stockings except for the fact that they are thicker and very tight fitting. The purpose of compression stockings is to put constant pressure on the veins and muscles in the legs. This pressure causes the blood to recirculate into other parts of the body and not pool in the feet. This treatment can decrease pain in the legs and can be a great option for some people who suffer from varicose veins.

If compression stockings don’t work or you just want to take another approach to treatment sclerotherapy might be an option. Basically what this consists of is a series of injections to treat surface varicose veins. The solution that is injected causes the vein to shrink and become scar tissue thus collapsing. This collapse or shrinking of the vein redirects the blood that was in the varicose vein to other healthy veins in the body. This treatment may take time to see the final results but is a very helpful option for many people.

A third option for treatment can be to have an endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) performed. The device that is used in this treatment consists of an optical fiber and a laser that is capable of closing a vein. For the procedure small incisions are made and the fiber is inserted all the way into the vein with the aid of an ultrasound. Once the fiber is in place the laser is turned on and the fiber is very slowly removed from the vein. As the fiber is pulled backwards it is closing the vein behind it. This procedure is slightly more invasive than the other two but it can yield some amazing results for people who suffer from varicose veins.

The last and most invasive of the minimally invasive treatments is a phlebectomy. The word phlebectomy actually comes from the two Greek words, “phlebo” which means vein and “ectomy” which means the act of cutting out. As you can see from the Greek meaning of the word phlebectomy it literally mean to cut out or remove a vein completely. To do this procedure you start by making incisions and injecting a fluid containing a local anesthetic to loosen the vein from its surrounding tissue. Once the vein is loose it can be removed either with a mechanical instrument or by hand. This procedure is the most invasive but the recovery time and results are still may better than any procedures that have been performed in the past on varicose veins.

If you have any questions about varicose veins or treatment options feel free to call Bellagio Clinic at 480-788-5621 or visit their website www.bellagioveinclinic.com.