Wish You Could Get Rid Of Your Large Varicose Veins? Here Are Two Treatments To Consider

If your varicose veins bother you, you should look into the various treatments available. Even if you don't have bothersome symptoms, you may be embarrassed about the way the veins make your legs look. That is also a valid reason to seek varicose vein treatment. The size and location of the veins play a role in the type of treatment your doctor recommends. If the veins are large, your physician may want to remove them. Endovenous laser therapy is another possible option. Here's how the two treatments compare.

The Procedures

Varicose vein stripping is the removal of the affected vein or veins. Your doctor makes tiny incisions in your leg at the bottom and top of the vein, then he or she guides a thin wire through the vein that grabs the top of the vein and pulls it out through the bottom incision. The appearance of your legs, and your symptoms improve right away, since the vein is removed.

Endovenous laser therapy uses a laser light. The doctor makes a small incision in your vein and threads in a tiny fiber with a laser attached. The laser light burns your vein so scar tissue forms and closes off the vein. It may take several months for your body to absorb the vein, and you may need more than one round of treatments.

Type Of Anesthesia

Vein stripping is done in a surgical setting such as an outpatient clinic. You will need general or spinal anesthesia so you won't feel pain during the treatment. With general anesthesia, you will be asleep throughout the entire procedure. You'll be awake when you receive a spinal, but you won't be able to feel any sensations in your legs until it wears off.

With endovenous laser therapy, you only need a local anesthetic injected into the targeted vein. You might also take a sedative to help you relax. You'll be awake or drowsy throughout the procedure. You'll be able to feel sensations in the rest of your body, but you won't feel pain in the vein being treated.

Recovery Process

With both types of treatment, you'll need to wear compression stockings during your recovery. These prevent swelling and stimulate blood circulation. Recovery from laser therapy could take a few weeks, while recovery from vein stripping could take twice as long.

Other than recovery time, the process is the same for both treatments. Your doctor will probably encourage you to walk or do other exercises to stimulate your legs and prevent blood clots. You may also need to elevate your legs a couple of times daily to help relieve swelling.

Deciding on the right treatment may be difficult. That's why working with a doctor you trust is important. You'll both need to consider your overall health, the condition of your veins, and the effects of the type of anesthesia required. However, both types of treatment, found at places such as http://veinvarices.com, for large varicose veins can bring about relief from pain and itching, as well as improve the appearance of your legs.