Around one in three people in the US is affected by varicose veins.
If you’re one of those people then you may be wondering exactly how you can get rid of them.
The good news is that there a number of different treatment options available.
Read on as we take a look at how to get rid of varicose veins.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are swollen veins that most commonly appear on the legs. What do varicose veins look like? They are often twisted and bulging and appear a dark blue or purple color.
For some people, varicose veins cause little pain and are mostly a cosmetic issue. For others, varicose veins can be painful and can even lead to more serious problems. The good news is that there are a number of ways of getting rid of varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy
An effective way of treating varicose veins is through sclerotherapy treatment.
In this treatment, you’re given an injection of a solution that irritates the walls of the blood vessel itself. This causes scar tissue to form which effectively closes off the vein. Your body reroutes the blood that traveled through that vein through other healthy veins.
Once the vein is closed off, it will begin to fade over a number of weeks.
Microphlebectomy
Another effective varicose vein treatment is microphlebectomy.
This involves making a number of small incisions in the vein. These are usually small enough that stitches are not needed so there is minimal scarring. A special hook is then inserted into the incisions to remove the vein.
Microphlebectomy can usually be performed on an outpatient basis.
Endovenous Laser Therapy
Endovenous literally means within a vein.
In this treatment, a small fiber is inserted into the varicose vein through a small incision. A laser is then activated on the end of this fiber. As the fiber is withdrawn, the laser heats up the vein, causing it to close. The sealed-off vein will then fade over time.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation works in a similar way to laser therapy but uses radio frequencies to heat up the vein, which causes it to shrink and close.
Once the vein has closed, blood finds an alternative route through other veins in your leg. Once starved of the supply of blood, the varicose vein will begin to fade.
Deciding How To Get Rid of Varicose Veins
As you can see, when deciding how to get rid of varicose veins you have a number of options to choose from.
The best way to choose is to speak to a professional. They will be able to talk you through all of the available options and recommend which one they think is the best option in your particular case. They will be able to use their expertise to help you decide on the best course of action.
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