How to Fix Varicose Veins? Your Different Treatment Options

Are you suffering from the condition known as varicose veins? This condition can be recognized by veins that may be tinged blue or even purple bulging underneath the skin, leading to an unsightly appearance. While commonly thought to be a condition that is caused by age, there is a range of lifestyle factors that can increase the chance of you developing this issue. This includes obesity, a taller than average height or a sedentary lifestyle to name just a few. They can also be genetic and if your parents or grandparents suffer from this condition, you are more likely to develop it yourself.

While varicose veins are typically harmless it is possible that if left untreated they can cause health issues. They may become uncomfortable to touch, itchy or even painful over time. For this reason and the cosmetic issue, many people wonder whether treatments are available to fix this problem.

What are the self-management techniques to deal with varicose veins?

It is better to let the vein specialist or vascular surgeon know about your condition and start getting the suitable treatment to get rid of varicose veins in the early stage. There are several self-management techniques to help you deal with varicose veins and decrease the symptoms of it including mild forms of exercise to improve the blood circulation in your legs.

Mild walking and cycling are better options to boost the blood flow in the legs. Stretch your legs and flex your calves more often, especially if you stand or sit all day for work. This will lead to a reduction in bothersome symptoms. Elevate your legs at the end of the day and wear the recommended compression stockings.

Is cycling a good exercise for patients suffering from varicose veins?

Cycling is one of the best methods of exercise to help reduce the symptoms associated with varicose veins and to build the overall health of your legs. Any light activity that gets you on your feet can make a difference in the condition of venous insufficiency, cycling is a good option for the leg with vein issues for these reasons:

Helps to flex your calves⠀Pedaling is a good way to stimulate blood flow through the legs⠀Strengthen your legs and improve circulation⠀In such cases, get a consultation and know about your condition better before trying any exercises

Can varicose veins be harmful?

Varicose veins can develop symptoms in a particular area. It can have many complications if left untreated.

With other complications, varicose veins may lead to:
Discoloration in the leg/ ankle area
Skin ulcer
DVT (Deep vein thrombosis)
Rupture and bleeding

What causes Varicose veins?

Age
Genetics
Heavy lifting
Prolonged standing/ sitting
position
Pregnancy
Hormonal imbalance
Obesity

What are the basic signs and symptoms of varicose veins?

When left untreated, varicose veins can negatively impact the overall quality of life. Potential symptoms and risks include:

Increased inflammatory and clotting markers
Discomfort
Skin changes
Ulcers
Clots
Deep vein thrombosis
Burning sensations
Cramping
Restless legs
More serious risks include:
Clots in deep veins that can travel to the lungs
Venous ulcers that are very difficult to treat

How do I spot a varicose vein?

Varicose veins are raised, large, swollen vascular vessels that appear twisted and turned through the skin’s surface. While they generally develop in the legs, they can appear on the face, as well.

The good news is that there are a variety of treatment methods that have proven to be effective when correcting the issue of varicose veins. The treatment options include:

Venaseal Vein Closure
Sclerotherapy
Laser Vein Closure
RFA Vein Closure

Let’s discuss each of these in term and determine whether one of these possibilities could be the right choice for you.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is one of the most popular treatment options for tackling the issue of varicose veins. One of the key benefits of this particular procedure is that it is minimally-invasive and can be completed quickly.

During sclerotherapy, a specialized treatment is delivered directly to the vein that is varicose. A fine needle is used to inject the solution and this irritates the inner lining of the vein. When this occurs, the vein collapses and the blood that was pooling in one place shifts to healthy veins that remain unaffected.

The vein that has collapsed eventually becomes scar tissue before being removed naturally from the body. Over time, it will fade completely.

Usually, this treatment is chosen for veins that are small yet nevertheless visible on the legs. However, it can also be used for veins in other areas of the body.

Another key benefit of this treatment is that you won’t require any anesthetic. This is due to the fact that the treatment is essentially painless and causes little to no discomfort. The treatment will only be completed after an analysis that will determine whether it is likely to be effective. It is important that a treatment like this matches your needs.

Once treatment has been completed, you will need to wear compression stockings. This keeps the solution used for sclerotherapy in one place and ensures that the treatment will be successful.

Laser Vein Closure

There are other advanced, innovative treatment options that can be used to fix varicose veins including laser vein closure. As the name suggests, this treatment involves the use of lasers and specifically a solution referred to as the Endovenous Laser Ablation.

With this treatment, it is possible to both reduce the signs of varicose veins and improve any health issues including swollen ankles or chronic pain. It is important to note that not everyone will be the right fit for this treatment option. There are only certain veins that are affected which will respond to this treatment. Before the treatment is completed an ultrasound will be used to check whether the veins affected are going to respond to treatment.

Similar to other treatments on this list, typical anesthesia is not necessary and patients will feel little to no discomfort. You will remain awake throughout the procedure. The treatment will begin with an ultrasound to ensure there is a completely accurate understanding of the affected vein and to ensure that an access point can be located.

Using the support of the ultrasound a catheter will be inserted through the impacted vein Once the catheter has been inserted a laser fibre will be threaded through the catheter. The overall aim will be to ensure that the entire vein is closed off before tumescent anesthesia is used around the length of the vein. This will ensure that there is no pain for you during the process of the treatment or in the recovery period after. Heat is released as the laser fiber is removed from the vein and this causes it to close.

After the process is complete, the leg is wrapped in cotton or a stocking that has been customized to fit your individual leg. As with other treatments, the vein will be absorbed by the body. Your skin will soon appear far clearer and free from this unsightly issue.

RFA Vein Closure

This option is quite similar to the laser treatment mentioned above. However, rather than utilizing laser technology, the process is instead completed through the effective use of radiofrequency ablation. As with the other treatments available, this is minimally invasive.

The radiofrequency is used to heat up the wall of the varicose veins. The process is very gentle and when the walls of the veins grow warmer they are damaged. This causes scar tissue to form around the edge of the wall. The scar tissue causes the walls to close off and this ensures that the vein begins to fade gradually over time.

Unlike other treatment options available, local anesthesia will be used. This will ensure that there is a minimum level of discomfort for you through the treatment which does require a small incision. After the treatment, it is important to ensure that you wear a compression sock. This will need to be kept on for at least one week. This will ensure that you see the greatest results.

Alternatives

It’s worth noting that there are options beyond medical treatment that you can consider. There are some possibilities that are going to help reduce the symptoms that you could be experiencing.

For instance, you can wear loose clothes. The benefit of this is that there is going to be a reduced level of pressure and tightness around the areas impacted on your legs. You can also think about perhaps changing your lifestyle. If you are more active and don’t stand up all through the day, then you are less likely to develop this condition. It will also help ensure that the condition does not get worse over time.

Furthermore, you may want to consider changing your diet. Obesity is one of the leading causes of varicose veins. As such, if you get your weight under control and improve your diet as well as your fitness, you could see great benefits. You might also want to think about using herbal remedies. While not backed by science, there is some evidence to suggest that herbal remedies will provide benefits for those suffering from varicose veins. You can find a wealth of information on the different herbal remedies available by completing research online. Plant extracts can also be beneficial and may be worth considering.

We hope this helps you understand the potential ways that you can fix the issue of varicose veins. With the right steps, you will be able to make sure that the problem doesn’t cause you a great level of discomfort or impact your beauty. You can get the treatment you need and ensure that your skin looks incredible once more, free from these blemishes.