Varicose Vein Care: 5 Things For You to Expect

Varicose veins can affect anyone. It is such a prevalent condition that 23 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with varicose veins. While they may be limited to a cosmetic problem for some, there are a few things you should understand before beginning treatment for this condition. Here are five things you can expect to ensure that your chosen treatment is effective, safe and comfortable.

You May Not Need Surgery

Varicose veins are the result of excess blood staying in your veins, which in turn enlarges them to make them bulge. Improving your cardiovascular system and circulation through weight loss, exercise or elevating your legs may be enough to manage your condition. You may also be able to opt for non-surgical options like compression stockings to avoid any surgical procedures.

Varicose Veins Can Be Painful

Some people assume that varicose veins are simply a cosmetic problem, but the truth is that they can be painful. They can do everything from itch to outright ache. If your varicose veins are painful, then it may be beneficial for you to seek a more immediate course of treatment, especially when you consider that even most surgical options are pain-free when compared to varicose veins where pain is a symptom.

Most Surgeries are Brief

Procedures like sclerotherapy, laser surgeries, vein stripping and ambulatory phlebectomies are all relatively brief procedures. Most doctors are able to keep these surgeries down to under two hours when you do not have other complications present. Recovery periods are also limited to a few days to a few weeks. You will likely be unable to notice any side effects past this point save for any minor scarring that may be present.

Not All Procedures Leave Scars

Varicose veins are considered a predominantly cosmetic condition, which means that most doctors capable of treating this condition do so with the utmost care to leave as little scarring as possible on your body. If you're worried about scarring, then consider sclerotherapy or laser surgery. Sclerotherapy works through injections to close veins. Laser surgeries target cells underneath the skin using specific wavelengths of light, which in turn leaves your skin free of scars.

Few Solutions are Permanent

While many solutions may offer to permanently eliminate varicose veins, this is only a half-truth in most cases. These procedures will eliminate the veins causing symptoms, but new varicose veins may arise if the underlying cause is not treated.

This is one of the reasons you should consider non-surgical varicose vein treatment before opting for surgical treatments. Treatment centers such as the iVein Vein Center specialize in varicose vein treatment work to help you solve both the causes and symptoms of varicose veins, which in turn provides a true long-term solution.

Varicose veins can be a frustrating condition to treat, but they are not a condition that you have to live with. You need only find the right treatment plan that addresses the symptoms and the causes of varicose veins. By understanding the numerous non-surgical and surgical treatment options for this condition, you will be more likely to successfully keep your varicose veins away permanently.