Are You Getting the Right Treatment for Varicose Veins?

A new treatment will get you back on your feet in a day

Varicose veins—they’re unsightly, uncomfortable and even painful. Half of the American population over the age of 50 has them, many of them women. They can even lead to other medical problems.

Varicose veins have damaged valves which cause them to lose their ability to efficiently return blood to the heart. A large percentage of cases are hereditary. However, age, pregnancy, obesity and excessive sitting increase your risk. The force of gravity and the pressure of body weight make legs the primary location for varicose veins.

If your legs are achy, tired, swollen or numb; or if the skin on your legs is darkening or itchy, you may be developing varicose veins. If untreated, the condition may worsen and lead to blood clots, infections, sores and skin ulcers.

The latest procedure to eliminate varicose veins

You don’t have to live with varicose veins. There’s a groundbreaking technique to eliminate the pain and appearance called Closure® (radiofrequency ablation). Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN) is the only hospital in the Lehigh Valley region to offer this leading-edge care.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office. A small, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through a tiny incision and delivers heat to the vein wall, causing it to collapse and seal shut. You’ll feel little, if any, pain during the procedure. Most people return to their normal activity the next day. In one to two weeks, you’ll notice an improvement in symptoms and vein appearance with little or no scarring.

Other treatments for varicose veins at LVHHN

Prescription compression stockings are always the first course of treatment. If they do not help, the following procedures may be necessary:

• Sclerotherapy-During this common treatment, a solution is injected into the vein causing the lining of the vein to swell, stick together and seal shut. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue and fades from view under the skin.

• Stripping-A long, damaged vein is removed through a small incision made in the groin or leg.

• Phlebectomy-Smaller veins are removed through a series of tiny skin punctures. A high-powered light (Tivex) may be used to illuminate veins during this procedure.

• Laser-Strong bursts of light are directed at the vein, making it slowly fade and disappear.

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