1. How Do Vein Doctors Perform an Excision of a Vein?
Vein doctors have multiple ways to extract a varicose vein, including traditional vein stripping surgery (phlebectomy) with general anesthesia, as well as ambulatory phlebectomy, in which the patient remains awake and is administered local anesthesia. Traditional vein stripping surgery typically involves multiple incisions near the groin, ankle, or knee, through which the vein specialist pulls the varicose vein out of the body. Sometimes, the entire vein is removed. Other times, the vein is tied off at a certain point (ligation) and a portion is removed.
With ambulatory phlebectomy, doctors use smaller puncture points, rather than large incisions, to access the vein. The patient is able to move around after surgery and usually does not need to stay in the hospital. Click HERE to talk with your doctor about options for varicose vein removal. In many cases, neither of these surgeries are required, since less invasive options work better for most patients. Read on to learn about alternatives to surgical varicose vein removal.
2. Does a Leg and Vein Doctor Always Use Surgery for Veins?
No, vein stripping surgery is not always used for varicose vein removal. In fact, most patients are better suited to methods like sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, vein adhesives, or endovenous laser treatment that “remove” the vein by destroying it within the body. Some vein clinics in New York specialize in surgery, but that is no longer the first line of varicose veins treatment. So, look for a vein clinic that specializes in minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins to avoid unnecessary surgery.
3. What Are Other Ways to Remove Superficial Varicose Veins?
There are several ways to treat varicose veins without surgically cutting them out of the body. These include injecting medicines or adhesives; applying thermal energy to the vein’s walls; and mechanically disrupting the vein’s walls to prompt its closure. Each of these minimally invasive tactics is conducted without general anesthesia, incisions, or hospitalization, which dramatically improves the safety, cost, and downtime of varicose veins treatment. Read on to learn about 5 of the safest methods.
4. How Varicose Veins Are Removed Safely: 5 Best Methods?
Some patients require phlebectomy or ambulatory phlebectomy, and these procedures have improved in safety and efficacy in the past few decades. However, a non-surgical option is the safest route when possible. Here are 5 of the safest ways to treat varicose veins.
- Sclerotherapy– Vein doctors insert a thin tube that delivers a sclerosant into the vein to irritate and close it.
- Radiofrequency Ablation– Vein specialists direct radiofrequency at blood vessels to heat them, causing them to scar shut and disappear.
- Endovenous Laser Treatment– Vein doctors heat the vein’s walls with laser energy to ablate the vein and reroute blood into healthy veins.
- Vein Adhesives– Vein specialists inject medical glue into the varicose vein to close it and prevent blood accumulation.
- Mechanochemical Ablation– Vein doctors insert special catheters that rotate to disrupt the venous walls while secreting a sclerosant to further prompt the vein to close.
5. How Do I Prepare for Varicose Vein Removal?
If your vein doctor recommends non-surgical varicose vein removal, there isn’t much preparation required. You won’t need to arrive early, since you won’t need general anesthesia or sedation. You can drive yourself to and from the appointment, and you can move around immediately after the procedure. In fact, most patients can go back to work or whatever they have scheduled that day.
That’s one of the best things about minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. It doesn’t just work quickly, it’s completed quickly too, so you don’t have to factor recovery time into treatment. However, if you need phlebectomy or ambulatory phlebectomy, talk with your doctor about how to prepare for surgery. Some patients might need to adjust their food and medication intake prior to treatment, or have someone accompany them to the procedure.
6. Radiofrequency Ablation Varicose Veins Before and After?
When you choose minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins, like radiofrequency ablation, before and after care is really easy. You’ll arrive at the vein clinic at your appointed time and relax with your leg elevated. The doctor will cleanse the skin at the treatment point and numb the area around the vein with an injection of tumescent anesthesia. Then, they’ll use ultrasound guidance to direct radiofrequency to the walls of the varicose vein. This heats the vein and causes the vein to swell and scar shut.
Blood is then redirected into a vein that can pump it back to the heart, rather than collecting in the overburdened varicose vein. This process takes 15-30 minutes, and you can move around right after the procedure and even go back to work. It’s a quick and gentle way to “remove” varicose veins, without physically cutting them out of your body.
7. Can a Vein Treatment Clinic Treat Veins Plus Vein Disease?
What if you have varicose veins plus spider veins or vein disease? Well, you’re in the majority. Most people’s varicose veins stem from a disease called Chronic Venous Insufficiency, which also produces spider veins. This disease involves valve failure deeper in a saphenous vein that allows blood to pool and create spider veins and varicose veins at the surface of your skin. These issues run in families and are quite common, particularly in women.
The good news is our Harvard-trained NY vein doctors treat varicose veins plus spider veins and vein disease, often in a single appointment. Each of these issues can be addressed with minimally invasive procedures, if you choose a board certified vein specialist. Treating Chronic Venous Insufficiency is necessary to fully eliminate varicose veins and spider veins and help prevent more from developing.
8. What If I Have a Varicose Vein Plus DVT or Blood Clots?
If you have a varicose vein plus a deep vein thrombosis or a history of blood clots, it’s essential to choose a vein doctor, not a dermatologist or esthetician, to treat varicose veins. Blood clots require additional expertise and technology like ultrasound guidance to make sure the clot doesn’t break loose and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
If you have a blood clot, surgery might be a safer choice for you, so talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of each treatment, and don’t settle for a doctor who didn’t study venous medicine. Some vein clinics in NY are run by doctors who specialize in other fields, so do your research. In addition, some patients have undetected blood clots, so it is actually in every patient’s best interest to choose a qualified vein doctor with the latest diagnostic technology.
9. Varicose Veins vs Stretch Marks: Do They Heal on Their Own?
Varicose veins and stretch marks share certain origins like pregnancy, weight gain, and hormonal changes. However, there are key differences. Stretch marks stem from rapid growth or weight gain in childhood or adulthood. Varicose veins stem from impaired circulation and are more common in adults, when endovenous blood pressure increases from pregnancy, hormonal shifts, or venous valve failure.
Stretch marks can be uncomfortable and unappealing. But they don’t require treatment and often shrink and lighten over time. Some patients use creams, laser treatment, or medications to minimize stretch marks, but these aren’t medically necessary. Varicose veins won’t disappear on their own. However, some veins enlarge to contain extra blood during pregnancy (and are not varicose), and they’ll shrink after delivery. To eliminate varicose veins, you need medical treatment and an assessment for vein disease.
10. Should I Get My Varicose Veins Treated If They Don’t Hurt?
Don’t wait for varicose veins to become symptomatic to seek treatment. The severity of symptoms doesn’t always correlate to the severity of vein disease. Some patients have blood clots or issues in deeper veins that they can’t see from the surface. In addition, Chronic Venous Insufficiency can produce more spider veins and varicose veins if left untreated. Seek treatment promptly to avoid serious complications.
11. What’s the Best Vein Center for Non-Surgical Removal?
The best vein clinic for non-surgical solutions is our award-winning vein treatment clinic in New York. Our exceptional vein doctors offer minimally invasive procedures in multiple locations in and around NYC, so you can always access state-of-the-art vein care. We specialize in non-surgical solutions, including sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser treatment, vein adhesives, and mechanochemical ablation. Our doctors avoid surgery whenever possible and have a proven track record of remarkable results.
12. What’s the Best Clinic for Varicose Veins in NY?
With locations in FiDi, Midtown, and the Hamptons, our NY vein treatment clinics are convenient, consistent, and a cut above the rest. We receive 5-star reviews from patients and have acquired multiple distinctions including accreditation by the IAC and selection as a Center of Excellence and Patient’s Choice medical clinic. Choose our team for compassionate care at a cutting-edge vein treatment clinic!