If varicose veins are causing discomfort or embarrassment, treatments are available. The aim is to reduce symptoms and avoid potential complications.
In addition to lifestyle modifications, Adelaide varicose vein treatment doctors may suggest medical treatments like laser surgery or catheter-based procedures. These interventions can significantly improve symptoms and the appearance of the affected area.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a nonsurgical solution for varicose veins that involves injecting a sclerosant into the affected vein. It irritates the vessel, causing it to swell and shrink, allowing blood to move more quickly through your leg and preventing new varicose veins from forming.
Injected sclerosant solution takes only an hour to administer in a doctor's office setting, with a small needle used to inject it into the diseased vein. After several minutes, the injected sclerosant will start to shrink the vein.
During this process, patients may feel minor discomfort or cramp in the treated area. It is entirely normal and should subside after a few hours.
Sclerosant injections may cause swelling, bruising or redness at the treatment site, but these should subside within a few days. Depending on how large the vein is being treated, results may take up to four months before visible.
Sclerotherapy may suit you if you are between 30 and 60 years of age and have mild to moderate varicose or spider veins. Unfortunately, this treatment isn't advised for people with certain medical conditions like pregnancy or a history of blood clots.
As part of your preparation for sclerotherapy, your Adelaide varicose vein treatment healthcare provider may advise that you discontinue prednisone. However, doing so can make the sclerosing agent less effective. Therefore, if you take this medication, it's wise to ask your healthcare professional to stop using it at least 48 hours before your scheduled sclerotherapy appointment.
Sclerotherapy typically produces a rapid recovery, and many patients can return to their regular activities immediately after treatment. However, if you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, or dizziness after the procedure, contact an emergency room for further assistance.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is one of the most successful varicose vein treatments currently available. It's safe, efficient and minimally invasive - making it an excellent option for patients who haven't responded well to sclerotherapy or are afraid of needles.
If a vein treated with ablation fails to close after your procedure, you must decide if you want another method or seek another form of endovenous ablation treatment.
Other vein treatments include phlebectomy, a less invasive solution for treating spider and varicose veins. Phlebectomy involves minor cuts in the affected vein and injecting a chemical solution such as salt water (saline).
Catheter-Based Procedures
Catheter-based procedures are less invasive and painful than traditional surgical stripping techniques, such as radio frequency (RF) venous ablation or laser vein treatment.
RF vein ablation is performed using an endovenous catheter placed under ultrasound guidance in the groin or arm veins. The RF energy coagulates the blood within the vein, causing it to shrink and close. This procedure can treat great saphenous veins, small saphenous veins, and reticular veins of the lower leg.
Sclerotherapy is another vein treatment available in the office that can be performed. During this procedure, a needle is inserted into the vein, and an injectable sclerosant is administered, causing it to shrink and close off, eliminating symptoms associated with varicose veins.
Sclerosant can also destroy any cells or bacteria within an affected vein, helping reduce the risk of infection and speeding up healing time.
This procedure is usually done in a hospital under general or local anesthesia with sedation. It's a minimally invasive surgery enabling your doctor to safely and effectively remove large varicose veins.
Adelaide varicose vein treatment method known as CHIVA (Ambulatory Conservative Hemodynamic Management of Varicose Veins) is another option for treating varicose veins that requires minimally invasive surgical techniques based on hemodynamic analysis with pulsed Doppler ultrasound. This treatment works best for more prominent veins that cannot be effectively treated using sclerotherapy or laser therapy.
Transilluminated powered phlebectomy is an ambulatory phlebectomy technique that utilises bright light to illuminate veins in the leg, marking them with a "magic marker". Hence, it's easier for the physician to observe them.
These veins are then cut and removed using a tool with an oscillating end, followed by suction down a tube. This method has proven successful in treating large varicose veins while being less traumatic than traditional stripping techniques.