People can sometimes suffer from the unpleasant effects of varicose veins. If varicose veins are causing you pain, a vein specialist may recommend you undergo an ambulatory phlebectomy or other surgical procedure to treat the problem.

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What are Varicose Veins?

Tiny valves help your veins transport the blood from your legs back to your heart. Under certain circumstances, these valves can become damaged, inhibiting the blood flow through the vein.  The vein can become distorted, enlarged, and twisted. This is a condition called varicose veins.

Age, sex, family history, pregnancy, and sitting or standing for long periods are some of the risk factors for developing varicose veins.

A lot of people are not bothered by their varicose veins. While they may look scary, they do not cause any real problems. However, some people with varicose veins experience a host of unpleasant symptoms, including pain, cramping, restless legs, swelling, rashes, and even blood clots and ulcers.

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Treatment for Varicose Veins

Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to people in the East Bay Area who are experiencing pain and other serious symptoms related to their varicose veins.

For minor problems, your varicose veins doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising, or avoiding sitting or standing for extended periods. They may also prescribe compression socks to provide the additional pressure and support the veins need.

In some cases, doctors for varicose veins may decide to seal the vein off. Once the vein is sealed, the blood is automatically rerouted to other veins while the damaged vein shrinks and withers away. Sclerotherapy and VenaSeal procedures use adhesives and other materials to seal the vein. Laser treatments and catheter-assisted procedures use heat to achieve the same effect.

In more serious instances, your varicose veins doctor may have to perform surgery to remove the damaged portion of a vein.  One of the most common is a procedure called an ambulatory phlebectomy.  It’s an ideal solution for bulging varicose veins located close to the surface of the skin.

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Questions You Need to Ask Before an Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Is an ambulatory phlebectomy right for you? Before you consider undergoing an ambulatory phlebectomy, here are some question you should ask your varicose veins doctor about the ambulatory phlebectomy procedure:

Q: What will happen to the vein after the ambulatory phlebectomy procedure?

A: Your body re-routes the blood through other veins.

Q: Is an ambulatory phlebectomy painful?

A: Local anesthesia is used so you won't feel any pain during the procedure.

Q: What happens during the ambulatory phlebectomy procedure?

A: First, your doctor for varicose veins will mark the areas for treatment. Before applying the anesthesia, the doctor will clean and sterilize the incision sites. Next, the doctor will make some small incisions through which he will cut and remove the affected section of the vein. The incisions are so small that bandages will suffice; stitches are unnecessary.

Q: What happens after your procedure?

A: You will be able to resume most of your normal activities immediately following the procedure. However, you will have to avoid any heavy lifting or any strenuous exercise for at least one week and keep the leg dry and clean to ensure proper healing and avoid infection. You will be prescribed an antibiotic to prevent infection and ibuprofen for any possible pain. You may experience bruising in the area treated. Some patients also develop small bumps under the incision sites, but this is normal. These effects are temporary; most patients make a full recovery within two weeks.

If you have any questions about your varicose veins and treatment options, call the BASS Vein Center at 925-281-5912.

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