Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged, and painful veins that fill with blood. They usually develop in the legs and are raised above the surface of the skin. They aren’t life-threatening but can cause discomfort.
A laser is a highly focused beam of light. A doctor uses a laser to treat varicose veins. Laser heat damages a vein, which makes scar tissue form. This scar tissue closes the vein. A closed vein loses its source of blood and dies. After a year or two, the vein is likely to disappear.
Simple laser treatment. Simple laser vein treatment is done on the outside of your skin. It can treat spider veins and tiny varicose veins just under the skin's surface. Usually, more than one laser session is needed. They are scheduled every 6 to 12 weeks.
Endovenous laser treatment. Endovenous laser treatment can treat larger varicose veins in the legs. A laser fibre is passed through a thin tube (catheter) into the vein. While doing this, the doctor watches the vein on a duplex ultrasound screen. Laser is less painful than vein ligation and stripping, and it has a shorter recovery time. Only local anesthesia or a light sedative is needed for laser treatment.
Sclerotherapy. The goal of sclerotherapy is to destroy varicose veins by injecting them with a solution called a sclerosant. The sclerosant scars the vein and causes it to collapse, forcing blood to reroute to healthier veins. Your body eventually destroys the veins, and they disappear over time. The sclerosant solution used is known as sodium tetradecyl sulfate. This type of procedure is typically used to treat small varicose veins located close to the surface of the skin called “spider veins” and to improve the appearance of the leg.
Radiofrequency Ablation. In this procedure, radio waves, also called radiofrequency energy, are transmitted through the vein wall. Doctor will numb the vein, use an ultrasound to see inside the leg, and then pass a wire catheter along the vein to apply radiofrequency energy along its wall. Typically, this catheter will run from the knee to the groin. The vein wall will heat up, thicken, and contract, and eventually be reabsorbed by the body and disappear. It may take a few weeks or months to see the full results of this procedure.
Not all varicose veins require treatment from a doctor. On your own, you can try these simple things to treat them:
Discuss with your doctor:
Because your doctor may ask you to stop taking aspirin, blood thinners, or any other medications that make it hard for the blood to clot a few days before the procedure.
You’ll be awake during the entire procedure. Your doctor will use ultrasound to visualize the vein, and your leg will be cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic. You may feel slight pressure when the catheter is inserted or minor stinging if a sclerosant solution is injected into the vein. If lasers are used, you’ll be required to wear protective glasses during the procedure. The closure of the vein, whether with radiofrequency or laser, shouldn’t be painful.
Your legs may be wrapped with bandages to control swelling and bleeding. These bandages may need to be worn for several days. You should plan on having a friend or relative drive you home after the procedure, and you may be advised to avoid strenuous exercise for a week or two after. Few medications may be recommended for any discomfort, but you should avoid any pain relievers that may disrupt blood clotting. Also, your doctor may have you avoid hot baths or whirlpools following the procedure. Cool showers or sponge baths with mild soap and lukewarm water are recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Q.Is laser treatment good for varicose veins?
Endovenous laser treatment can treat larger varicose veins in the legs. A laser fiber is passed through a thin tube (catheter) into the vein. While doing this, the doctor watches the vein on a duplex ultrasound screen. Laser is less painful than vein ligation and stripping, and it has a shorter recovery time.
Q.Do varicose veins come back after laser treatment?
Many patients experience excellent results from surgical procedures to get rid of many varicose veins, but sometimes varicose veins do reoccur.
Q.Can you exercise after laser vein treatment?
Strenuous Activity should be avoided after Most Laser or Surgical Vein Treatment. However, activity, such as cardio exercise and running, for several days or weeks after your treatment.
Q.What foods are bad for varicose veins?
Q.How to Prevent Varicose Veins from Getting Worse?
