Cardiovascular Center of Excellence

Varicose Vein Treatment

Vascular Services

(732) 235-7816
(609) 860-0326 (Monroe Township office)

Varicose Vein Treatment

What are varicose veins? (spiders and varicosities)

Veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart. Veins become varicose when valves in veins weaken, causing blood to pool, and the veins become large and twisted. Varicose veins occur mostly in the calves and thighs, but they can be anywhere.

How common are varicose veins?

More than 20 million men and women have pain and discomfort from varicose veins. Risk factors for varicose veins include family history, age and obesity. During pregnancy, changes in blood flow and hormone levels can increase the number and severity of varicose veins.

What are the treatment options?

Non-invasive options include supportive stockings, exercise and leg elevation.

If the pain of varicose veins is not relieved, other options include:

Sclerotherapy

The most common treatment for both spider veins and varicose veins, sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the vein causing the lining to swell and eventually seal.

In a few weeks, the vein fades. Although the same vein may need to be injected more than once, sclerotherapy can be very effective. Most patients can expect up to a 90 percent improvement.

Sclerotherapy does not require anesthesia, and can be done in a doctor's office. Side effects include stinging or painful cramps, red raised patches of skin, small skin ulcers, and bruises. The treated vein could become inflamed or develop lumps of coagulated blood. Applying heat and taking aspirin or antibiotics can relieve the inflammation, which is not dangerous.

Closure Technique

This method involves placing a special catheter, or small tube, into the vein. Once inside, the catheter sends radiofrequency waves to shrink and seal the veins. Healthier veins surrounding the closed vein restore the blood flow.

What about very large veins?

Large varicose veins can be treated with outpatient procedures. These procedures are performed with local or regional anesthesia. Available surgical options include:

Vein Stripping or power excision

With this treatment, the varicose veins are completely removed from the leg.

Removing the veins will not affect the circulation of blood in the leg because deeper veins take up the increased blood volume.

Micro phlebectomy

The vein is pulled from the leg using a series of tiny incisions and special surgical hooks. The vein can be removed in one treatment.

Normal activity can be resumed immediately, and complete recovery is expected after one to two weeks.

Complications of vein surgery are rare but include: bruising, minor skin infections, and mild nerve damage. Small sensory nerve branches are difficult to avoid when veins are removed. This damage can cause numbness in small areas of skin, burning, or a change in sensation around the surgical scar. A rare complication is a blood clot in a deep vein. Treatment of the clot requires blood thinners.

Can varicose and spider veins return even after treatment?

Current treatments for varicose veins and spider veins have very high success rates. Depending on the severity of the problem new veins can become varicose over time.

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