Varicose Vein Treatments
Varicose veins aren't attractive, but are they harmful? If you're a sufferer, should you have something done about your varicose veins? Can't you just deal with them on your own? While it's true that varicose veins are unsightly, they can also cause medical complications, and that's why many people who suffer from varicose veins want to know the various options for treatment. Thankfully, varicose vein treatment throughout the country has become fairly common and very popular, and for good reason. Varicose veins can develop into serious circulation problems that can cause pain and even life-threatening blood clots. Here's more information from healthcare professionals in the area regarding vein treatment in New Jersey about the various options available to varicose vein sufferers.
Treatment options for varicose veins
There are a number of effective treatments for varicose veins, and the type of treatment chosen often will depend upon the severity of your varicose veins and the symptoms that accompany them. Some of the more favored treatments include support hose, radiofrequency ablation, Sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and Endoscopic vein surgery.
Support hose: Also referred to as compression stockings or compression socks, support hose are often the first means of treatment chosen by healthcare professionals for treating varicose veins. This is perhaps the most common form of therapy used as an initial treatment for varicose veins because the use of support hose is the least invasive treatment available. Support hose work to reduce blood pooling that occurs due to varicose veins, which then increases blood flow to the heart. Support hose are effective for many patients at relieving pain and other symptoms such as swelling, itching, and burning. Support hose apply pressure to legs, with the most pressure starting at ankle level and less pressure being applied up the legs.
Radiofrequency ablation: Radiofrequency ablation utilizes heat to treat enlarged, swollen veins because varicose veins are punctured in order to thread a catheter through them up to the groin area. The catheter is used to send heat to enlarged veins, which causes them to close off and eventually fade.
Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is typically used for less serious varicose veins or spider veins. In this treatment, a doctor will inject a saline or chemical solution into enlarged veins in order to close them off, which then causes them to harden, fade, and eventually disappear. Sclerotherapy is often performed on an outpatient basis.
Laser treatment: Laser treatment often is used for varicose veins that occurs close to the surface of the skin. This treatment utilizes bursts of light that are sent into small veins affected by poor circulation. Laser treatment then works to close off enlarged veins, eventually causing them to fade and disappear in the months following the treatment. Laser treatments work by penetrating the tissue of the skin in affected areas and generating new cells where old ones have been destroyed. Laser treatment also is often performed on an outpatient basis.
Endoscopic vein surgery: Endoscopic vein surgery is a medical procedure. It's surgery, which means it's typically only used in more advanced cases of varicose veins, often in cases that involve ulcers. In this treatment, a surgeon will insert a thin video camera into the affected legs in order to view varicose veins and close them off. Varicose veins are then removed via small incisions. This procedure can also be performed on an outpatient basis.
When to see a healthcare professional
Some patients who have varicose veins will never develop serious symptoms. However, many people who have varicose veins suffer from accompanying symptoms such pain, burning, itching, heaviness in the legs, and/or difficulty walking. It's vital for all who have them to know that varicose veins can even become life-threatening. Varicose veins can put a patient at a much higher risk for developing serious circulation problems such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to life-threatening blood clots. If you're suffering from pain or other symptoms of your varicose veins, it's important that you seek proper diagnosis and treatment to get your blood flowing properly again.
If you're someone who's been suffering from the pain, circulation problems, or even just the unsightly appearance of varicose veins, there's good news for you. Today's varicose vein treatments can be a safe and effective means of decreasing or even eliminating the pain and other problems that can accompany varicose veins. For more information, contact a vein treatment center to schedule a consultation.
Treatment options for varicose veins
There are a number of effective treatments for varicose veins, and the type of treatment chosen often will depend upon the severity of your varicose veins and the symptoms that accompany them. Some of the more favored treatments include support hose, radiofrequency ablation, Sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and Endoscopic vein surgery.
Support hose: Also referred to as compression stockings or compression socks, support hose are often the first means of treatment chosen by healthcare professionals for treating varicose veins. This is perhaps the most common form of therapy used as an initial treatment for varicose veins because the use of support hose is the least invasive treatment available. Support hose work to reduce blood pooling that occurs due to varicose veins, which then increases blood flow to the heart. Support hose are effective for many patients at relieving pain and other symptoms such as swelling, itching, and burning. Support hose apply pressure to legs, with the most pressure starting at ankle level and less pressure being applied up the legs.
Radiofrequency ablation: Radiofrequency ablation utilizes heat to treat enlarged, swollen veins because varicose veins are punctured in order to thread a catheter through them up to the groin area. The catheter is used to send heat to enlarged veins, which causes them to close off and eventually fade.
Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is typically used for less serious varicose veins or spider veins. In this treatment, a doctor will inject a saline or chemical solution into enlarged veins in order to close them off, which then causes them to harden, fade, and eventually disappear. Sclerotherapy is often performed on an outpatient basis.
Laser treatment: Laser treatment often is used for varicose veins that occurs close to the surface of the skin. This treatment utilizes bursts of light that are sent into small veins affected by poor circulation. Laser treatment then works to close off enlarged veins, eventually causing them to fade and disappear in the months following the treatment. Laser treatments work by penetrating the tissue of the skin in affected areas and generating new cells where old ones have been destroyed. Laser treatment also is often performed on an outpatient basis.
Endoscopic vein surgery: Endoscopic vein surgery is a medical procedure. It's surgery, which means it's typically only used in more advanced cases of varicose veins, often in cases that involve ulcers. In this treatment, a surgeon will insert a thin video camera into the affected legs in order to view varicose veins and close them off. Varicose veins are then removed via small incisions. This procedure can also be performed on an outpatient basis.
When to see a healthcare professional
Some patients who have varicose veins will never develop serious symptoms. However, many people who have varicose veins suffer from accompanying symptoms such pain, burning, itching, heaviness in the legs, and/or difficulty walking. It's vital for all who have them to know that varicose veins can even become life-threatening. Varicose veins can put a patient at a much higher risk for developing serious circulation problems such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to life-threatening blood clots. If you're suffering from pain or other symptoms of your varicose veins, it's important that you seek proper diagnosis and treatment to get your blood flowing properly again.
If you're someone who's been suffering from the pain, circulation problems, or even just the unsightly appearance of varicose veins, there's good news for you. Today's varicose vein treatments can be a safe and effective means of decreasing or even eliminating the pain and other problems that can accompany varicose veins. For more information, contact a vein treatment center to schedule a consultation.