Varicose veins are formed when the valves of certain veins do not function as desired and prevent blood flow back to the heart. This leads to excessive pooling of blood and eventually causes extreme swelling and irritation in the affected area.
It is essential to get your varicose veins diagnosed and treated on time as any delay or lack in medical aid can result in other health complications such as chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcers, blood clots in the deep veins (DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis), and even the life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism (blood clot that travels to the lungs).
Varicose Veins Treatment Procedures
The treatment procedures for varicose veins are aimed at closing off or removing the damaged veins. There are two different treatment approaches as detailed below:
- Surgical Procedure – Until recently, surgery was the only way to treat varicose veins. In this process, the surgeon makes an incision to either ligate (tie-up) or remove the malfunctioning veins. This procedure is painful and thus performed under general anaesthesia.
Surgical procedures also require a few weeks to months’ time for total healing. There is a 50% chance of varicose vein recurrence after 5 years of surgical treatment. Scarring, bleeding, infection, pain, and DVT are some common side-effects of surgical procedures.
- Minimally Invasive Treatment – These procedures are performed under the influence of local anaesthesia and require only a small incision to be made on the skin. These are usually performed as outpatient procedures in the doctor’s cabin. The minimally invasive treatment procedures usually require only local anaesthesia, are quick to perform, and heal even faster. The patient can resume work and perform routine tasks from the very next day itself.
- Sclerotherapy – This process involves injecting a scarring agent into the damaged veins. Sclerotherapy works well in the case of spider veins but is rare to give satisfactory results for patients complaining of severe varicose veins.
- Micro-phlebectomy – In this procedure, a small nick is made on the skin above the varicose veins. The damaged veins are then removed.
- Endovenous Ablation – In this procedure, a laser fibre along with a catheter is inserted into the varicose veins from a small incision. The heat from the laser is used to burn and close-off the damaged veins. This gives immediate relief from the swelling and pain. The success rate for this laser treatment ranges from 84% to 94%
Varicose Veins Treatment Specialists
During a routine examination, if your general physician suspects the development of varicose veins, he/she is most likely to recommend you to see a vascular specialist for diagnosis and treatment before further advancement in the disorder.
You may choose to visit healthcare practitioners with the following specialization:
- Vein Surgeon – A vein surgeon is an expert doctor who is trained to conduct surgical procedures for the removal of varicose veins. The vein surgeon uses general anaesthesia to make an incision in the damaged area and remove all damaged veins. This procedure usually requires a larger hospital stay.
- Interventional radiologist – An interventional radiologist is a healthcare practitioner who excels in the minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins. These specially trained doctors use a live duplex ultrasound scan to diagnose and treat the damaged veins. The minimally invasive laser treatment is not only painless but is also more efficient and has zero downtime.
Although a few other doctors such as phlebologists, cardiologists, dermatologist, plastic surgeons, and even general surgeons can also help you with the treatment of varicose veins, vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists have complete additional training which makes them a better choice for diagnosis and treatment of even the critical cases of varicose veins.
Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Vascular Centre is not only an internationally qualified vascular surgeon but also a highly trained interventional radiologist. He has more than two decades of medical experience and specializes in the endovenous laser ablation treatment process of varicose veins in patients of all age groups. With an array of 40,000+ completely cured, happy, and satisfied patients, he is renowned in Hyderabad and across India for his excellence in the treatment of varicose veins.
Dr. Rajah V Koppala practices at Avis Vascular Centre which is a well-equipped medical institution with a modern infrastructure and all latest medical facilities. Avis Vascular Centre also offers Mediclaim assistance from all the leading national insurance agencies and complete support for non-local patients as well. Schedule your consultation for the best-in-class treatment of varicose veins today!
