Missouri Vein Care Blog

What's the Skinny on Vein Treatments?

Written by Dr. Michael Ryan | August 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM

Many people are concerned about treatments and want to be comforted. They don’t want to be afraid. Like most things in life, it’s easier than you think. My patients tell me that vein treatment is actually easier than going to the dentist.

In the video below, I discuss in more detail several different types of vein treatments to help you feel more confident. In all of these procedures, there’s no surgery, no incisions, no hospital stay, no down time...and they take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to complete. 

We focus on patient comfort. Numbing solution minimizes discomfort and most people carry on a conversation with me and watch a nature video on the tv during the treatment. Afterwards, they get up, walk out the door, and continue their day. Relaxation pills are available for people who may be particularly fearful in the doctor’s office. 

 

Types of Vein Treatments

Radio Frequency or Laser Ablation

After the area is numbed up, these ablation treatments are performed by inserting a small IV catheter into the vein to then heat seal the vein, causing it to collapse. Then, blood will be able to reroute to other veins.

Sclerotherapy

This treatment involves a gentle injection of a solution directly into the vein, causing the vein to collapse, redirecting blood flow. 

Phlebectomy

This is the process of removing veins that have become uncomfortable or very visible and is often the very best treatment option to remove the appearance of bulging veins. It is the most reliable way to get a vein-free appearance from bulging veins. In most people, they are healed up and gone in 30 days. 

Most vein treatments work to close abnormal veins where stagnant blood under high pressure accumulates. After this, the blood can flow normally, resulting in healthy veins. Then, your body’s circulation returns to normal and inflammation in the body decreases, resulting in a dramatic improvement in symptoms. This is not to say there are absolutely no side effects. Depending on your treatment type, you may be faced with mild swelling, tenderness, numbness and/or tingling post-procedure for a few weeks.

Before you receive any sort of vein treatment, you must first know whether or not you have a vein condition, and there are both visible symptoms and invisible ones. To know definitively if you have a vein condition, you must receive a vein ultrasound. Our vein treatment is tailored to each individual, depending on what the vein ultrasound reveals. One thing our patients love about their treatments is the fact that there is no downtime. With many of our treatments, you’ll be able to return to work, play with your kids or grandkids and be active right away! Most people resume exercising the very next day. 

People come to me because they want relief from their leg or foot symptoms, or want more energy and better sleep. Contact our office to set up an initial screening.