Summer is knocking at the door, and many people are breaking out their shorts and swimsuits. But for those with varicose veins, the thought of showing your legs—no matter how hot it may be outside—can be daunting. You might choose to continue wearing jeans even in the sweltering California heat just to avoid letting people see your varicose veins. Instead of sweating through the summer in pants, why not visit a cosmetic dermatologist to discuss having those veins removed? Here are a few treatment options you might want to discoss with your dermatologist.
Varithena
Varithena is a highly effective treatment for bulging, painful, and itchy veins that occur in the veins running down the inside of your leg. If you have varicose veins here, Varithena may be a good option for you. It’s a minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure, so you don’t have to worry about incisions or major recovery.
Your doctor will use ultrasound to determine where to perform an injection. Then, microfoam is injected through a small catheter into the diseased vein. This causes the vein to collapse, and forces your body to reroute blood flow to healthier, stronger veins. Without the steady flow of blood through the impacted veins, the appearance of your varicose veins—along with the pain, itching, and swelling—will decrease significantly.
VenaSeal
VenaSeal is incredibly similar to Varithena, but instead of injecting microfoam, your doctor will inject medical adhesive into the impacted vein. Just as with Varithena, the adhesive used in VenaSeal will close off the diseased vein and divert blood flow to nearby veins instead.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (often simply referred to as ablation) is another minimally invasive procedure, but its approach is quite different from the aforementioned procedures, and it does require a small incision. During ablation, your doctor will make a very small incision along the diseased vein. Then, a small catheter will be inserted directly into that vein, and an electrical current will run through the catheter.
The heat of this electricity damages the diseased vein and causes scar tissue to develop, which closes off blood flow in the vein. As with the other treatment options, the closure of the impacted vein diverts blood flow to other veins, which are often stronger and healthier, and the appearance of your varicose veins will significantly decrease or disappear altogether.
Though an incision is required for ablation, as previously stated, it’s a very small one. Recovery from ablation (as well as the aforementioned treatment options) is minimal, and you can return to full activity rather quickly. And you’ll be able to do it with healthier, more beautiful legs.
If you have varicose veins, don’t let them stop you from enjoying your summer. Contact Academic & Aesthestic Dermatology Consultants today to discuss treatment options for your varicose veins. We are experts in many aspects of dermatology in San Diego, CA, and we can help you to love your legs again. Wear those shorts and your swimsuit with pride this summer, and enjoy the feeling of healthy legs free of varicose veins. Give us a call today at 858-292-7525 and schedule an appointment to discuss treating your varicose veins!
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