Varicose Vein Treatments
Non-Surgical Treatments for Varicose Veins and Reflux
It used to be the case that surgical stripping was the only option available to treat superficial vein reflux and varicose veins. This involved admission to hospital, treatment in an operating theatre under general anaesthetic and major surgical incisions and scars. In our opinion surgical stripping is outdated and should no longer be performed.
There are much better treatments available now which do not involve general anaesthetic and which have better cosmetic results and with a much lower risk of the varicose veins returning. In addition they can be performed in a clinic rather than a hospital on a walk in walk out basis under local anaesthetic.
The recovery after these new treatments is much more comfortable and far quicker. Most people can return to driving, work and social activities within a few days.
There are 3 main methods of treating superficial vein reflux, tributaries and visible varicose veins:
- The use of heat energy inside the vein, called endothermal ablation
- Injection treatment with a prescription medicine called a sclerosant – Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy
- Microsurgical extraction of lumpy surface veins (also called phlebectomy or microphlebectomy)
These new treatments are minimally invasive and are administered through pinprick-sized incisions in the skin, under local anaesthetic and under ultrasound monitoring.
Each method has pros and cons and some people are more suited to one of these treatment options rather than another. So, although varicose veins may look very similar from one person to another, the root cause of the problem and the type of reflux may be very different in each individual. The specialist also needs to consider the patient’s medical history and special requirements. At The VeinCare Centre, we offer a patient-centred, tailored programme using a combination of these treatment methods in line with independent expert opinion from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Clinical Guideline CG168)
In addition, we believe that treatments are best performed under local anaesthetic on a walk-in, walk-out basis. Our team is very experienced in treating people under local anaesthetic, even those who are very nervous.
Advantages of Vein Treatment under Local Anaesthetic
Even now, some vein specialists still recommend that you have your varicose veins treated under a general anaesthetic. In our opinion, this is not necessary or appropriate.
Although general anaesthetic is very safe nowadays, local anaesthetic is always safer.
Naturally, you may be worried that local anaesthetic treatment of your varicose veins is going to be painful. You might be frightened of needles or you might be concerned that you will see something that will make you feel faint or scared.
Vein specialists who regularly perform varicose vein treatment under local anaesthetic understand these concerns. The specialists at The VeinCare centre will make sure that you are kept comfortable during your procedure and that you receive sufficient local anaesthetic and sufficient time for it to work!
Procedures under local anaesthetic are carried out in a clinic rather than a hospital on a walk-in, walk out basis in just a few hours.
We can reassure you that local anaesthetic is the preferred method of providing pain relief during your varicose vein treatment.
There are several good reasons for you and your vein specialist to prefer local anaesthetic.
Less Risk to the Heart and Breathing
Local anaesthetic puts virtually no strain on your heart or on your breathing.
Heart and breathing complications after varicose vein treatment under local anaesthetic are extremely rare indeed. For this reason, many patients who would not be suitable for treatment under general anaesthetic can safely have their veins treated under a local anaesthetic.
Less Risk of DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is less common after varicose vein treatment under local anaesthetic than when performed under a general anaesthetic.
Under general anaesthetic, you would be rendered unconscious and of course, you would not be able to move. Blood only moves in the deep veins when your leg muscles contract. When your leg muscles contract, the veins are squeezed causing blood to flow back to your heart.
Under local anaesthetic, you can continue to move your legs during the vein treatment, encouraging blood flow. Furthermore, you will get up and about more quickly after local anaesthesia, which encourages blood flow and discourages clots.
Regular movement is an effective method to reduce clot formation. Just think about those in-flight exercises you do on a plane.
When you are unconscious, the blood in the deep veins is “stagnant” and is more likely to clot. In contrast, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) after vein treatment under local anaesthetic is very rare indeed, much less common than under general anaesthetic.
Less Risk of Nerve Injury
Even though modern vein treatments are non-invasive, very occasionally Endovenous Laser Treatment and Phlebectomy can irritate the nerves nearby. If this were to happen under local anaesthetic, you would experience some discomfort which warns your specialist that nerves nearby are being irritated.
This is important because it gives your specialist warning to protect this nerve by surrounding it with more local anaesthetic fluid.
This warning signal would not be available if you were being treated under general anaesthetic. For these reasons, nerve injury is extremely rare with modern treatments under local anaesthetic.
Even though modern vein treatments are non-invasive, very occasionally Endovenous Laser Treatment and Phlebectomy can irritate the nerves nearby. If this were to happen under local anaesthetic, you would experience some discomfort which warns your specialist that nerves nearby are being irritated.
This is important because it gives your specialist warning to protect this nerve by surrounding it with more local anaesthetic fluid.
This warning signal would not be available if you were being treated under general anaesthetic. For these reasons, nerve injury is extremely rare with modern treatments under local anaesthetic.
The precise placement of local anaesthetic solution around veins which are to be treated by Endovenous Laser Ablation ensures that the heat energy which closes the vein is not transferred to the skin.
Local anaesthetic solution around the nerves acts as a heat barrier between the laser inside the vein and the skin. Although skin injuries are possible with Endovenous Laser Ablation, the use of local anaesthetic virtually eliminates this risk altogether.
Quicker Recovery
If you’ve ever had a general anaesthetic, you will probably know that you can feel quite groggy and unsteady on your feet for several hours afterwards.
Many people after a general anaesthetic also feel nauseous. These are not problems when you have your varicose vein treatment under local anaesthetic.
Modern minimally invasive endovascular treatment for varicose veins and superficial venous reflux can be performed under a local anaesthetic on a walk-in walk-out basis.
The recovery after local anaesthetic is much quicker than after a general anaesthetic and people can get back to normal activities sooner.