What are the most effective treatments for varicose veins?

Varicose veins may be unsightly and uncomfortable, but they are not something you have to live with forever. There are several different types of treatment readily available and – in most cases – this is a quick and easy condition to treat.

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New treatments are emerging all the time and removing varicose veins does not generally mean a stay in hospital. This is thanks to the development of less-invasive procedures.

The self-care route

If you want to prevent further varicose veins or stop existing veins getting worse, you can opt to go the self-care route. This will involve ensuring you get plenty of exercise; not wearing tight, restrictive clothes; limiting the time you spend standing or sitting; and elevating your legs on a regular basis.

Opting for stockings

Compression stockings are often varicose vein sufferers’ first port of call. These stockings steadily squeeze your legs, helping the blood to move more freely through the body and improving your circulation.

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Alternative treatments

If self-care and compression stockings do not provide the results you desire, there are plenty of other treatments available. Cheshire varicose vein treatments from providers such as http://www.veinsolutions.co.uk/ vary depending on the severity of your veins, as do treatments at other clinics across London and the globe.

Sclerotherapy is a very popular choice and involves a doctor injecting the veins with a solution that scars and closes them. The veins fade and disappear over time, with no anaesthesia needed. Foam sclerotherapy is recommended for larger veins and works in much the same way, with a foam solution used to close the vein and seal it.

Laser and surgical removal

Laser technology has made a major impact in the medical field and can be used to treat varicose veins very successfully. Small bursts of light are pulsed onto the veins, making them fade and eventually vanish.

Catheter-assisted procedures using laser energy or radiofrequency are also very effective, although they are more invasive. A catheter is inserted into the vein and laser or radiofrequency burns it, sealing it off as it is removed.

Other successful treatments include vein stripping, ambulatory phlebectomy, endoscopic vein surgery, and even natural remedies. Each treatment option offers its own benefits and it is recommended that you discuss your options with a medical professional before proceeding.