Vein disease has many facets and many treatment options, ranging from full surgical procedures done under general anesthesia (vein stripping) to minimally invasion options performed with only a local anesthetic and a needle of fluid (sclerotherapy) to completely non-surgical options (compression stockings). Depending on the severity of your vein disease, you may want to start with the least costly and non-surgical options and go from there.
Today’s topic will not touch on surgical options, but our website has many discussions on those, so feel free to look around. If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can always schedule a consultation with The Skin & Vein Center and get your questions answered one on one by our skilled and knowledgeable physicians. Read on for a list of non-surgical options for dealing with vein disease.
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Healthy Lifestyle
Exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and ceasing smoking may not cure your vein disease, but it definitely will relieve the symptoms associated with vein disease and help in the prevention of reoccurrence.
Compression Stockings
These garments may not actually cure your varicose veins or other vein diseases, but they can help ease the symptoms and prevent further deterioration of the veins. Used most often for varicose veins, edema, phlebitis, and thrombosis, they work by compressing the affected limb, which allows for better circulation.
Sclerotherapy or Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
Both procedures are performed as an outpatient treatment, are minimally invasive, and completely non-surgical. Traditional sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for spider veins; using a local anesthetic and a very small needle, a sclerosant (usually a saline solution) is injected directly into the affected vein, closing it up and causing it to disappear almost immediately. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy uses a foam type sclerosant and an ultrasound machine for stubborn veins that are deeper below the surface of the skin.
Endovenous Laser Ablation
In endovenous laser ablation, an ultrasound guide the size of a tip of a pencil is used to direct a laser beam to the vein, which then disintegrates the vein, allowing it to be absorbed into the body. A local anesthetic no stronger than what a dentist uses is the only numbing agent needed, and patients can walk out of the office immediately after the procedure is done. This procedure has a 98 percent success rate.
Skin & Vein Center
Technology has made it possible to cure many vein diseases without the necessity of major surgery and extended recovery periods. Schedule your consultation with The Skin & Vein Center today and start your journey to a healthier you!