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Varicose Veins - Treatment Overview

The goals of varicose vein treatment are to reduce symptoms and prevent complications. For some, the goal may be improved appearance. Home treatment-especially exercising, wearing compression stockings , and elevating the legs-is the first and often best approach.

If home treatment does not help, there are a number of minimally invasive treatment options. These include sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and radiofrequency ablation. Laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation may be used to treat larger varicose veins. Vein surgery, called ligation and stripping, is an option for severe varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy. A chemical (sclerosant) is injected into a varicose vein to damage and scar the inside lining of the vein, causing the vein to close. This usually works best for small veins.
Laser treatment. Laser energy is used to scar and destroy varicose veins. This is called ablation. Endovenous laser therapy uses a laser fiber inserted into the vein. Laser ablation inside the vein makes the vein close up.
Radiofrequency treatment. Radiofrequency energy (instead of laser energy) is used inside a vein to scar and close it off. It can be used to close off a large varicose vein in the leg. This ablation treatment is new and may not be available in your area.
Ligation and stripping. Incisions are made over the varicose veins, and the vein is tied off (ligated) and removed (stripped).

Treatment may be necessary to remove the damaged veins, treat complications, or correct an underlying problem that is causing the varicose veins. The size of your varicose veins affects your treatment options. Generally, larger varicose veins are treated with surgery (ligation and stripping), endovenous laser, or radiofrequency treatment. In some cases, a combination of treatments may work best. Smaller varicose veins and spider veins are usually treated with sclerotherapy or laser therapy on your skin.

Some people may want to improve how their legs look, even though their varicose veins are not causing other problems. In these cases, surgery, sclerotherapy, or laser or radiofrequency treatment may be appropriate-as long as there are no other health problems that make these treatments risky. For more information, see:

Varicose veins: Should I have a surgical procedure?

What To Think About

Doctors recommend home treatment as a first step for varicose veins. This may be all you need to relieve symptoms. But you may still want surgery or vein treatment if you are not satisfied with their appearance or your symptoms are not well controlled.

If you are thinking about having surgery or a vein treatment, you may want to know which treatment is best for you. No single approach is best for treating all varicose veins. Sclerotherapy, endovenous laser, or radiofrequency treatment may be best for smaller veins. Surgery may work better for larger veins, though laser or radiofrequency treatment may also work well. Talk to your doctor about your choices.

Many treatment methods-including all types of surgery, sclerotherapy, laser, and radiofrequency ablation-can scar or discolor the skin.

Treatment can be more difficult for deep veins that are damaged or for perforating veins, which connect the deep and superficial veins. These veins may be treated with surgery, radiofrequency ablation, or sclerotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 05, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.