ExecutiveChronicles | Vein, Vein, Go Away: Can Varicose Veins Go Away? | If you have varicose veins, know that you’re not alone; they affect about 20% to 60% of adults worldwide. However, they’re more prevalent in females; women are two to three times more at risk of getting them than men. What’s more, they’re a type of chronic venous disorder that may cause discomfort or even pain.
The good news is that there are many treatments for these visible leg veins. What’s more, some varicose vein treatments can even make them disappear.
With that said, we created this guide on the options available to make unsightly leg veins go away. Read on so that you can make a more educated decision on which treatment to get.
First, a Background on Veins
Did you know that the blood vessels in the average human body can stretch out to about 60,000 miles? Some of those blood vessels, in turn, are veins, the roles of which are to transport deoxygenated blood. They carry low-oxygen blood from the organs back to the heart.
Veins can do their job thanks to the three layers of walls that make up their structure.
First up is the tunica externa, the outermost layer. Then, there’s the tunica media, found in the middle area of the veins. Finally, you have the tunica intima, the innermost section.
The tunica intima, in turn, houses one-way valves, which are like gates that open to let blood pass through. Then, the valves close to keep the blood from flowing backward. They need to seal themselves this way to make sure the deoxygenated blood flows toward the heart.
Varicose veins occur if the valves stop doing their job of being a one-way gate. If this happens, the blood that should be flowing toward the heart can spill back or pool up in the veins. Either way, this can lead to the valves weakening or becoming damaged.
As a result, blood can fill the problematic veins to the point of swelling. From there, they can stretch or become twisted. Moreover, the accumulated blood can give them a bright red color that shows through the skin.
Varicose Vein Treatments That Can Make Them Disappear
Before, people who wanted to make their varicose veins go away had to undergo open leg vein treatment. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case today, as there are now less-invasive methods. Thanks to these innovations, you can say goodbye to varicose veins without hospitalization.
Sclerotherapy
According to Ivycardiovascular.com, sclerotherapy is one method to make varicose veins disappear. It does so with a medicated formula known as a sclerosant. A doctor needs to inject this solution directly into the affected vein.
Sclerosant, as an irritant, damages the innermost lining of blood vessels. The damage then causes a blockage in the treated vessel, either by swelling or the formation of a clot. This then restricts the flow of blood into the problematic vein.
Since the varicose veins no longer get blood, they will shrink and collapse. From there, the body will absorb the treated veins in about a few months. It takes only a few weeks for spider veins to disappear, though, as they’re smaller than varicose veins.
While the term “irritant” sounds like it hurts, sclerotherapy isn’t usually painful. That’s why no anesthesia is even necessary before the procedure. However, it’s important to note that some people may feel a burning or tingling sensation.
Simple Laser Treatment
Simple laser treatment is another option for smaller spider and varicose veins. During the procedure, the doctor directs the focused beam of light on the faulty veins. The heat from the laser then damages the veins, causing scar tissue to form within.
That scar tissue then seals off the vein, so blood can no longer flow through it. As a result, the laser-treated vein shrinks and dies, and the body then absorbs it.
Tinier veins treated with a simple laser may disappear soon after the treatment. However, it can still take a few months for other problematic veins to go away.
The main advantage of simple laser treatment is that it doesn’t involve injections. Still, it’s vital to keep the laser-treated area away from heat and sunlight for the next three to four weeks.
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)
Your doctor may recommend EVLA if you have deeper, more prominent varicose veins. It’s a bit more invasive than a simple laser, though, as it requires inserting a catheter. For this reason, you’d need to get a shot of anesthesia to numb the treatment area.
The doctor would then pass a laser fiber through the catheter. From there, the laser fiber would heat the varicose vein, just like how a simple laser would. Since EVLA targets deeper, larger veins, though, it can take many months for them to go away.
Most EVLA procedures take less than an hour, and the doctor can discharge you right after. However, you may feel some burning sensation for a few days after the treatment. Your doctor may also require you to wear compression stockings to help your recovery.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Instead of using laser light, RFA utilizes radiofrequency energy or radio waves. Like EVLA, though, an RFA procedure also requires the insertion of a wire catheter. The catheter is where the doctor will apply the RF waves to treat the veins.
The RF energy also produces enough heat to make the vein contract and seal shut. After several months of not receiving any blood, the vein would die. The body would then absorb it, making it disappear.
Since RFA requires catheter insertion, too, you can also expect to get anesthesia. You’d also need to wear compression stockings for about a week or two after the procedure.
Say Goodbye to Unsightly Spider and Varicose Veins
While many people think that spider and varicose veins are only cosmetic, they can cause pain, too. They can also have adverse effects on self-confidence and quality of life.
So, if your varicose veins are giving you a hard time, make them go away. Talk to a phlebologist, dermatologist, or vascular surgeon about your treatment options.
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