Varicose Veins: Know Your Treatment Options

A normal leg compared to a leg with varicose veins.

Did you know one in four Americans suffers from the condition, which is created by faulty valves within the veins which cause blood to back up or pool? Symptoms often include swelling and a persistent ache in the legs and ankles. Varicose veins may be accompanied by spider veins, which are small red, blue, or purple twisting veins which are easily visible through the skin, although they don’t protrude like varicose veins do. If you have varicose veins, you’re not alone. Learn what treatments are available for you.

Spider Veins Vs. Varicose Veins

Spider veins are mainly a cosmetic problem, but varicose veins can cause your legs to feel achy and tired nearly all the time. You may also experience a burning or tingling sensation and a feeling of heaviness in your legs as a result of varicose veins.

Treatments Available for Varicose Veins

Fortunately, there are several treatment options available at the Vein Clinic of Greater Kansas City. Our team of vein experts, led by Dr. Craig D. Barbieri, offers numerous options to get rid of your varicose veins. The good news is that they are all minimally invasive. Dr. Barbieri will be able to guide you to the best option for you depending on your condition.

Compression Stockings

Compression garments, such as custom-fit stockings, are usually the first step. These snug-fitting stockings help to increase blood flow and reduce pain and swelling. They can be used after other treatments, and also as a conservative preventive measure.

Radio Frequency Ablation

Through this procedure, our technicians heat the vein wall using temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy to shrink, collapse, and seal the problem vein. Once the vein has been closed off, blood naturally reroutes to healthy veins. The closed vein is treated as waste by the body and is eventually absorbed.

Laser Vein Ablation

This procedure is similar to Radio Frequency Ablation except that a laser fiber is inserted through the skin to accomplish the same end – shrinking and sealing of the problematic vein, which is then absorbed as waste by the body in a matter of weeks.

Sclerotherapy

This is a treatment wherein a concentrated saline solution is injected through a tiny needle resulting in the vein being absorbed by the body naturally over a period of several weeks. This treatment is used on varicose veins when ablation is not recommended. We can also use ultrasound guidance to help guide us to diseased veins ensuring accurate targeted treatment.

Arithena

This procedure is done with injections through ultrasound guidance. it is a “superfoam” mix of polidocanol, nitrogen, and oxygen used to treat larger or deeper veins that we are not able to use catheter ablation or phlebectomy to treat.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

For bulging surface veins, Ambulatory Phlebectomy is used to remove bulging, surface veins. The procedure is done in our office using local anesthetic. After the skin is numb, very small punctures are made and the vein is removed. The entire procedure takes 1-2 hours and the benefits are amazing! No stitches are needed, and there is only minimal downtime In fact, in most cases, you can resume your normal activities immediately following the procedure.

If you suffer from varicose veins, there’s no need to live with the constant pain. There’s a treatment option that’s right for you at the Vein Clinic of Greater Kansas City. Why not call us today at (913) 541-3377 or contact us online?