People who have to deal with varicose veins in the legs suffer from not only those unattractive purple-blue bulges on their otherwise smooth legs, but also with considerable pain in many cases. Many people who suffer from varicose veins have an underlying medical problem known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI.) There is help for both CVI and the developed varicose veins. Below, we’ll be discussing Radiofrequency Ablation, a non-invasive way to manage CVI and eliminate varicose veins.
How Varicose Veins Develop
The most common reason for the development of varicose veins is decreased blood flow. The valves that monitor the flow of blood sometimes cease to function properly, which in turn causes the blood to build up in the veins or even to flow backwards. The valves no longer allow blood to move towards the heart, which means decreased blood flow overall. This is why CVI happens, and is why varicose veins develop. The veins are strained with the unprecedented deluge of blood that they often become stretched well beyond their limits. This is why varicose veins show up as knotty bulges on the legs.
How Radiofrequency Ablation Can Help
Radiofrequency Ablation is a minimally invasive way to deal with varicose veins and CVI. While vein stripping surgery was a common way to eliminate varicose veins, it was more invasive and required a longer recovery. Radiofrequency Ablation can eliminate varicose veins with less blood and less pain during the procedure.
During Radiofrequency Ablation, a very slender needle is inserted into the insufficient vein. A catheter will then be placed into the vein. The catheter’s role is to send heat directly to the walls of the vein. This will cause the vein to compress. The vein compression is permanent, which means that the blood-engorged vein will eventually collapse and be naturally absorbed into the body. As the vein absorbs, the surface of the skin will gradually become smoother, and ultimately there will be little trace of the formerly bumpy looking veins.
Most Radiofrequency Ablation treatments take less than an hour, and results can show very quickly. If you are interested in this procedure or have questions, feel free to call our offices today!
