As the summer is just knocking at the door and your women friends must be gearing up to have a gala party to celebrate this Women’s Day, you also must be keen to show your picture perfect legs in skirts and shorts, so what is keeping you away? Are you feeling the social pressure of not being able to show those gorgeous legs just because you have some deeply colored, thick, noticeable veins around the calves and the knees? This varicose veins condition affects nearly 80 million adult US residents in a year, according to a recent study.
The varicose veins condition can be due to several factors like genetic history, hormonal changes (during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause), obesity, previous wound, sitting/standing for a prolonged period of time, and some other factors. Nowadays, there are many treatment options available, of which radiofrequency ablation for treating varicose veins is quite popular in California.
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for spider and varicose veins. Ablation procedure means the doctor would use radiofrequency heat energy to damage the affected veins, which takes the form of a scar tissue. A tiny catheter is inserted by making a tiny incision. The ablation closes off the varicose veins in the legs. This technique can be used on large veins using local anesthesia. The whole process takes about 45 minutes to an hour. After that you would be able to resume your normal activities. However, the doctor would advise you to wear compression stockings for a few weeks. When you visit the doctor for the follow up, he/she would use duplex ultra-sound to ensure that the affected veins are closed.
Some of the probable side effects of radiofrequency ablation include:
However, these complications can be avoided if the treatment is done by reputed and experienced vein specialist. If your doctor has years of experience in treating patient with the radiofrequency method, then there would be less risk for you to have these complications. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about these complications and if there is any chance for these to take place in your case.
The whole procedure takes around 45 to 60 minutes. On the day of the treatment, you would be told to lie down on the hospital/clinic bed. The whole procedure would be guided by an ultrasound. Local anesthesia would be injected on the affected leg where the treatment would be done. Once your leg becomes numb and devoid of feeling any sense, a small puncture is made in the affected vein with the help of a needle. Then a catheter with the radiofrequency heat source is inserted into the affected vein. Once the catheter is placed in the right position, then it is gradually pulled backward. As the catheter is pulled away, it sends out RF heat, which closes off the affected veins. In some special cases, the side branch of varicose veins can be tied off or removed through a few incisions. After the catheter is removed, pressure is applied to the site for stoppage of bleeding. The doctor advises you to wear compression stockings for a few weeks.
