Varicose veins form when your vein walls stretch and its valves fail, causing blood to pool in your vein and bulge and twist out of its original path. It causes it to back up into it, causing it to expand further, causing it to bulge further out and twist further in.
Your NYU Langone doctor may suggest compression therapy, such as stockings or wraps that put pressure on your legs for relief or prevention of complications associated with varicose veins.
Endovenous laser ablation
EVLT is one of the safest varicose vein treatment Adelaide available and recommended for patients suffering from large varicose veins causing leg pain, swelling, tiredness and itching. A doctor makes a small incision above or below the knee using ultrasound guidance, then threads a catheter through to a damaged vein, which emits laser energy that heats its walls until they collapse and seals off completely. Blood is then diverted away into other healthy veins for circulation.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic in the clinic and usually allows you to return home the same day. Some individuals experience temporary bruising and changes to skin colour that tend to resolve themselves over time; others experience thrombophlebitis – an infection in the vein that appears as brown splotches near it, which are harmless yet may take up to one year for these to disappear completely.
Radiofrequency ablation
Under local anaesthetic, this procedure involves having a doctor make a small incision near the affected vein above or below your knee before inserting a catheter with a radiofrequency energy-emitting probe into your varicose vein and threading a narrow tube called a catheter into a narrow catheter through to emit heat to collapse it and seal off its walls so blood flows freely again through healthy veins instead of remaining stagnant in one spot. Over time, your body absorbs this faulty vein and its blood is redistributed back through healthy conduits instead.
You might consider having this procedure if other forms of treatments, such as sclerotherapy – used to target specific nerves responsible for discomfort – do not suit you. Before this is done however, blood-thinning medicines must be discontinued before having this done, and someone must arrange to drive you home afterwards.
Varicose vein treatment Adelaide, with the use of these injections, may provide relief for painful arthritis in large joints such as knees, hips and shoulders. Brownish splotches may appear at injection sites but will typically fade after several months. Check with your insurance provider whether this procedure is covered in their policy.
Phlebectomy
If your varicose veins are large and close to the surface of your skin (particularly near your groin), a doctor may advise this surgical procedure. Phlebectomy involves tying off each varicose vein before it joins an existing deeper vein and then extracting them with small cuts – sometimes known as vein stripping or ambulatory phlebectomy.
Before initiating phlebectomy, your healthcare provider will apply local anaesthetic. They then make tiny incisions around the varicose vein and use a hook to extract it – often done as outpatient procedures.
After this treatment, compression stockings should be worn. You might also need to raise your legs above heart level to promote blood flow and decrease swelling. Before seeking this therapy, be sure to inform your healthcare provider of any herbs or dietary supplements you’re currently taking, as these could interfere with it.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy involves the doctor using a special chemical solution to seal varicose veins. Once sealed, your body absorbs them over time until they fade or completely disappear from view – but multiple sessions of this form of therapy may be needed before results can be seen.
Varicose vein treatment Adelaide can ease discomfort, heaviness and itching while potentially avoiding complications like leg ulcers, skin discoloration and swelling. Sclerotherapy for small varicose and spider veins typically produces results within three to six weeks, while larger varicose veins may take more time to dissipate; larger varicose veins might require wearing compression stockings for some time until their effects fade completely – avoid sun exposure until healing has taken place!