Chronic venous insufficiency develops when vein valves in your legs stop working properly. Blood flows back down the leg, and it collects in the lower veins. Because pressure rises in these veins, you may notice swelling. Other signs include skin changes, cramping, and varicose veins, so discuss vein treatment when you experience them.
Closing Veins With Heat
ClosureFast targets the great saphenous vein, and it can also target other major veins causing reflux. Your surgeon numbs the area, and ultrasound guides a thin catheter into the affected vein. Once positioned, the catheter delivers controlled radiofrequency energy to the vein wall. The wall heats to a precise temperature, causing the tissue to contract and collapse. The vein closes completely. Blood reroutes to nearby healthy veins. Treatment is applied in short segments along the vein, and the catheter moves gradually from one segment to the next. This segmented approach lets your surgeon control the entire length of the vein. Vein treatment usually takes less than an hour, and most patients return to normal activities. The treatment takes place in an office or outpatient setting, and you stay awake throughout. The area stays numb, so discomfort is minimal.
Sealing Veins With Adhesive
VenaSeal uses a medical adhesive to close a damaged vein from the inside, since this is minimally invasive. Your surgeon makes a small entry point in the skin and places a thin catheter into the vein. Ultrasound imaging tracks the catheter during the procedure, and this real-time guidance helps your surgeon place the adhesive accurately. As the catheter is slowly withdrawn, it releases precise amounts of a specially formulated cyanoacrylate adhesive along the vein wall. The adhesive bonds the vein walls together, sealing the vein shut.
This rerouting reduces the backflow of blood that causes pressure in your lower leg. As circulation improves through healthier veins, symptoms like swelling, heaviness, and discomfort often decrease gradually. This technique does not use heat, and that difference matters for certain patients. Fewer injections are needed, and the overall experience is often more comfortable. Patients who are sensitive to anesthesia or who prefer a gentler approach may find VenaSeal a suitable option.
Treating Smaller Surface Veins
Your surgeon injects a sclerosant solution directly into the affected vein using a fine needle, so here is what happens next:
- The solution irritates the inner lining of the vein wall, and the lining becomes inflamed.
- As inflammation develops, the vein walls stick together, and the vein can no longer carry blood.
- Over the following weeks, your body absorbs the treated vein, and it gradually fades from view.
Schedule Your Vein Treatment Today
Treatment starts with an ultrasound of your leg veins. The scan shows which valves are failing, and it maps blood flow in each vein. After your surgeon reviews the results, you will discuss each option, and together you will build a treatment plan. Bring a list of your symptoms and current medications to your visit. Get answers about your leg symptoms from vein specialists who keep the process simple. Call today or book an appointment online.
