Treatment of varicose veins in the legs with the best definitive and effective methods!

There are definitive and effective methods for treating varicose veins that are currently utilised by doctors.

• How To Treat Varicose Veins
• Future of Varicose Vein Treatment
• Do Varicose Vein Treatments Have Side Effects?

Varicose veins are a common vascular condition affecting veins responsible for returning blood from limbs to the heart. When vein walls or valves malfunction blood pools causing swelling and inflammation leading to varicose veins. Many patients are unaware that advanced medical technology offers safe effective treatments.

If you want to gain good information about varicose vein treatments, it is better not to miss this article written by the superspecialist cardiologist and vascular specialist, Dr. Behnam Vaghefi, on the recovery and treatment of this disease.

Please note that the application of each of these methods has its own valid reasons and indications, and it does not necessarily mean that they can replace one another or be prescribed for everyone. Therefore, which treatment method is suitable for you depends solely on the opinion of the specialist physician in this field.

By visiting a specialized varicose vein clinic, you can choose the best treatment and experience satisfaction with leg varicose vein treatment.

About Varicose Veins

Veins rely on valves to prevent blood backflow. If valves or vein walls weaken blood accumulates causing veins to swell and twist. This often occurs in the legs resulting in visible bulging veins. Modern treatments have replaced outdated invasive methods offering quicker recovery and fewer complications. Choosing the right treatment depends on a specialist’s evaluation as not all methods suit every patient.

How To Treat Varicose Veins

Historically treatments like bloodletting toxic vein sealing or herbal remedies were common but ineffective and risky. By the 20th century invasive surgeries and harmful chemicals were used causing pain and long recovery. Today minimally invasive methods provide safer outpatient solutions with minimal discomfort and short recovery periods.

Many patients ask how the doctor determines the type of varicose veins and the best treatment for their leg varicose veins.

Conservative Treatment and Prevention

Early-stage varicose veins benefit from lifestyle changes detailed in Varicose Vein Prevention Methods. These include:

• Regular exercise to improve circulation

• Healthy diet to maintain weight

• Avoiding prolonged sitting or standing

• Wearing compression stockings to reduce swelling

• Medications to alleviate symptoms like pain or heaviness

Finally, maintaining skin hygiene in the areas affected by varicose veins is also part of conservative treatment, because the skin in these areas becomes sensitive and vulnerable due to impaired blood circulation. The use of fragrance-free and non-allergenic moisturizers, along with varicose vein ointments, can help prevent itching and the development of skin ulcers.

Some patients may also use pills and painkillers for their varicose veins to reduce leg pain. In such cases, they should be cautious about the type of painkiller, the dosage and the progression of symptoms.

These measures slow disease progression and relieve symptoms but may not eliminate existing veins.

Minimally Invasive Treatments

Modern methods performed outpatient without anesthesia or hospitalization include:

1. Sclerotherapy

The gold standard for superficial veins sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosant solution to collapse veins. It outperforms surface lasers with lasting results for spider veins. Performed by specialists it’s unsuitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Liquid or foam sclerotherapy improves vein appearance quickly with minimal bruising or pain.

We recommend reading the article "Which treatment is better for leg varicose veins: sclerotherapy or laser?"

2. Endovascular Treatments (EVLT and EVRF)

Laser (EVLT) or radiofrequency (EVRF) treatments use a catheter guided by ultrasound to seal veins with heat. These replace traditional surgery for severe rope-like veins offering quick recovery and high efficacy.

In the endovenous laser or radiofrequency method, a very thin specialized tube called a catheter or optical fiber is inserted into the vein and, under the precise and real‑time guidance of ultrasound, is positioned at a very specific and accurate location. Then, from inside the vein, the vessel is cauterized and sclerosed using laser radiation or radiofrequency waves.

In fact, in this method, the thermal energy generated by the laser beams causes thermal destruction of the vein wall and its closure. In the radiofrequency method, radiofrequency wave energy is used to generate heat in the vein wall.

Both of these treatments lead to complete closure of the diseased vein and the blood flow is intelligently redirected by the body toward other healthy deep veins. The major advantage of these methods is that no incisions are made on the skin; the entire treatment is performed through very tiny openings (similar to an injection site).

Today, with the advancement of technology and medical equipment, various types of leg varicose vein laser treatments and endovascular ablation are easily performed in specialized varicose vein clinics.

3. Surface Laser Therapy

Superficial laser treatment for varicose veins is used in very limited cases such as individuals who are allergic or hypersensitive to sclerosant agents, for treating facial varicose veins (where sclerotherapy carries a higher risk due to the delicacy of facial skin), for very fine recurrences after sclerotherapy and similar indications.

In this type of treatment, laser beams are directed from the skin surface onto the very fine veins and the absorbed light energy is converted into heat to close the vein.

This treatment method is performed over several sessions depending on the healing process, and it is mainly used for small and superficial varicose veins, such as spider veins, as well as for preserving the beauty and appearance of the legs. The recurrence rate after laser treatment is higher compared to sclerotherapy.

The reason is that superficial laser may not be able to reach the deeper feeding veins. Additionally, using superficial laser on darker skin requires great precision to avoid skin pigmentation or burns. However, for very fine veins that even the finest sclerotherapy needles cannot enter, superficial laser serves as an excellent complement to sclerotherapy.

4. Phlebectomy (Mini and Micro)

Small incisions remove varicose veins with specialized tools. Mini and microphlebectomy use tiny cuts requiring no stitches minimal recovery and fewer complications than traditional surgery.

5.VenaSeal Glue

Another modern and advanced method isvaricose vein adhesive or vascular tissue glue (VenaSeal), in which a special medical adhesive is used to close and eliminate the varicose vein. Similar to endovenous laser and radiofrequency methods, a catheter or small tube is first inserted into the vein under ultrasound guidance, and then very precise amounts of the glue are delivered into the vein.

6.Venous Endoscopy

Although varicose vein surgery has been used as one of the treatment methods for varicose veins from the past until now, with the advancement of technology and the availability of new endovascular devices, surgical methods no longer have a place in varicose vein treatment. Due to the difficulty and complexities of the surgery, many patients may not prefer it.

Invasive Surgical Treatments

Surgery is rarely used today due to advanced alternatives but may be necessary for complex cases:

• Varicose Vein Surgery

Involves large incisions to remove veins requiring hospitalization anesthesia and long recovery. Risks include bleeding infection and recurrence.

• Vein Stripping and Ligation

Removes or ties off large veins under general anesthesia with a month-long recovery. Used only when endovascular methods are not feasible.

Read more: What kind of doctor or specialist should we consult for leg varicose veins?

Future of Varicose Vein Treatment

Emerging therapies like stem cell-based treatments to repair vein walls and improve circulation show promise. Consulting a specialist ensures the best treatment tailored to your condition.

What should be done to treat leg varicose veins?

Do Varicose Vein Treatments Have Side Effects?

All medical treatments carry risks but modern techniques minimize complications. For example older sclerotherapy methods using strong sclerosants caused rare blood clots (1 in 100000 cases). Today advanced drugs and endovascular lasers nearly eliminate this risk. Most side effects like bruising or redness are mild and resolve naturally. Traditional remedies like leech therapy or unverified herbal treatments are unapproved and may cause infections. Always consult a specialist for safe effective care.

Conclusion

Years ago varicose vein treatment meant drugs or surgery. Today sclerotherapy laser therapy phlebectomy and VenaSeal offer easier safer options. A specialist at a varicose vein clinic assesses vein type severity and patient health to recommend the best approach. Early intervention and prevention enhance outcomes.

FAQs

What causes varicose veins?

Weak or damaged vein valves allow blood to pool causing inflammation and bulging veins often in the legs which can be due to genetics, congenital defects, prolonged standing or sitting, obesity, trauma and other factors.

Is varicose vein treatment permanent?

Most treatments permanently remove affected veins but new veins may form without preventive measures.

When to worry about varicose veins?

Seek care for leg heaviness pain swelling bulging veins skin discoloration ulcers or vein bleeding.

Can varicose veins be treated during pregnancy?

Treatment is typically delayed until after childbirth as symptoms often resolve post-delivery. Consult a specialist if symptoms persist.

What are non-surgical varicose vein treatments?

Compression stockings medications lifestyle changes sclerotherapy and laser therapy are common non-surgical options.