Non-surgical Technique Treats Even The Deepest Varicose Veins

Chances are good that you or someone you know suffers from the painful condition called varicose veins, those purplish, often swollen veins that become distended as a result of the aging process or from extended periods of sitting or standing. It’s estimated that more than 60 percent of all men and women in the United States will suffer from some form of varicose veins sometime in their lives. These veins, which can cause persistent aching, pain, and a feeling of heaviness in affected limbs, occur more often in women than in men, with more than 40 percent of women experiencing the condition by the time they reach age 50.

Many veins can be treated successfully using a technique known as sclerotherapy, which involves injections of a special solution directly into the veins. The solution hardens, or “Scleroses,” the veins, preventing the flow of blood and allowing the veins to fade away in most cases.

But some men and women suffer from varicose veins which, due to their location, are difficult to both visualize and treat. For these individuals, the only option was to remove the veins surgically, in a procedure which was often painful and required a prolonged period of recovery. Fortunately, a new technique called ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is allowing physicians to successfully treat these hard-to-reach veins using the same sclerosing technique that has proven successful in patients with easy-to-access veins.

In ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, your physician will be able to visualize the veins to be treated using a special monitor. In addition to treating veins located deep beneath the surface of the skin with greater accuracy, the ultrasound-guided procedure is also considered safer than conventional sclerotherapy for treating larger veins.

And, the ultrasound technique can also successfully treat large networks of spider veins which may be associated with varicose veins.

Like traditional sclerotherapy, a typical procedure can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more to complete. And it’s important to realize that your veins may actually look darker immediately following treatment, and even for a week or two afterward, as the veins collapse and blood flow stops. Not to worry, though: by two weeks after your procedure, the veins will have begun to fade in a process that usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks.

For several days following the procedure, you’ll also likely have to wear compression hose, a special type of leg wear which, while not exactly worthy of the fashion runway, will help in the healing process and keep swelling and discomfort to a minimum.