Your Varicose Veins Medical Procedure Guide: What To Expect

Do you have visible, twisting veins on your legs? Do they seem swollen and “raise up” through your skin? Do they cause you discomfort? Then you likely have the common problem known as varicose veins.

Varicose veins are uncomfortable, unsightly veins that usually appear on the calves and inner thigh. They’re caused by veins that can’t properly push blood up to the heart. The blood gets “stuck” in the veins, forcing them to swell and appear visible through the skin. They appear for several reasons, including age, weight, genetics, pregnancy, vein diseases, and jobs where you’re on your feet a lot. It’s estimated that one in five adults will suffer from varicose veins at some point in their life, so you’re not alone. 

Just because varicose veins are common doesn’t mean you need to simply accept them. You can go through a varicose veins medical procedure to treat your pain and their unpleasant appearance. Here’s what you should know about varicose veins, the benefits of having them treated, and what to expect from the treatment process.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are hard to miss. They appear like snaking, reddish-purple or blue raised veins under your skin. They may appear gnarled, and they’re likely to be accompanied by aches, throbbing, or muscle cramps. 

Untreated varicose veins can get worse and lead to significant health problems. You may notice that your legs swell significantly over the day. You may even suffer from veins that develop into open wounds around your ankles. While this is rare, it does occur in up to 6% of varicose vein sufferers.

Benefits of Seeking Varicose Vein Treatment

If you have a family history of varicose veins that get worse, treating them early is essential. A varicose veins medical procedure can help reduce or remove the pain these veins cause. Treatment also prevents them from developing into ulcers or developing rashes. 

Even if your veins don’t hurt, treatment is still the best course of action. Treating your veins prevents them from getting worse and potentially becoming painful. Last but certainly not least, treating your varicose veins can improve the appearance of your legs, allowing your body to heal the raised and discolored sections and letting you wear shorts or skirts without being self-conscious.

Treatments for Varicose Veins

There are multiple medical procedures for treating these problem veins. Depending on your veins, your specialist will recommend a varicose vein treatment, such as:

• EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment). This procedure uses a medical laser and small injection to heat-seal your varicose veins. When your veins are sealed, they are reabsorbed by your body. EVLT is usually complete in one or two sessions.
• Varithena. This treatment involves the injection of an FDA-approved microfoam that seals off the varicose veins and allows them to be reabsorbed into your body. It is usually completed in one or two sessions.
• VenaSeal. This procedure uses a patented, FDA-approved glue to seal off your veins. It usually requires the least local anesthetic and may be performed without any drugs.

All varicose vein treatments are performed in-office as outpatient procedures. They are minimally invasive and not considered a major medical procedure. There’s no hospital stay, the recovery period is brief, and results are quick. That means that you can get back to your regular life in no time. 

What to Expect During Your Varicose Vein Treatment

Getting your varicose veins treated may seem intimidating if you don’t know what to expect. Luckily, you don’t need to go into it blind. Here’s how the process works with My Vein Treatment from start to finish. 

Making an Appointment

The first step of the process is finding the right specialist for you and making an appointment. My Vein Treatment will help you find a vein specialist near you who can perform the procedures you want. Just visit the Find a Vein Specialist page and enter your zip code to find vein physicians in your area. 

Once you’ve found the right specialist, you can call them and make an appointment for your consultation. This is usually a quick one-on-one visit during which you’ll talk with the specialist about your symptoms, and they’ll examine your varicose veins. They’ll also recommend the treatment they think will best resolve your veins for good. 

The Treatment Process

Once you’ve met with your vein specialist for the first time, you’ll be able to schedule your treatment. Every treatment is slightly different, but they do have similarities. For instance, they occur in the office of the vein specialist, not in a hospital. They also typically involve the specialist using an ultrasound machine to find the right place to perform the treatment.

For your treatment, you should wear loose-fitting clothing that can be moved to reveal your veins. Drink plenty of water before your appointments, too. Most vein treatments take one or two appointments of less than two hours total, so you’ll be able to go home and rest in no time. Your specialist will let you know if you need to schedule an extra appointment or follow-up. 

Varicose Vein Procedure Recovery

Once your treatment is complete, it’s time to rest and recover. Recovering from varicose vein treatments is usually easy. You should be able to get back to your normal activities immediately after treatment. To speed up the healing process, you’ll be asked to do things like:

• Take a day to rest
• Avoid strenuous activity for a few days
• Wear compression hose until the treatment area heals
• Walk around frequently to improve circulation
• Elevate your legs when you’re sitting or lying down
• Avoid standing for long periods

All of these things help your veins heal more quickly. However, outside of these minor changes, you should be able to return to your daily life as soon as the next day. 

Schedule Your Consultation

Treating varicose veins can significantly improve your quality of life. If you’re ready to treat your veins, you can get started by using My Vein Treatment’s specialist locator to find a vein specialist near you and setting up your consultation today.