Vein Closure Treatments

Vein closure is a common way of treating conditions that cause large unsightly veins. There are several options available, and they are often used for the treatment of varicose veins or spider veins. Given the sheer number of possible vein closure or surgical techniques, the type used is dependent on the severity of your condition and what your doctor recommends as being the best possible option.

Sclerotherapy

• Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to turn the affected vein into scar tissue, causing it to close up. It is achieved through the injection of a solution (either saline or a chemical) directly into the vein that causes it to scar. It is a highly effective procedure and typically done in the office of your doctor. Anesthesia is not used, and in most cases the procedure only needs to be done one or two times to effectively close the vein. After the procedure, the vein will start to fade over the course of a few weeks.

Surgical Options

• In some cases, surgical removal may be used as an alternative to or in conjunction with vein closure. These include:

  Vein stripping, which involves the complete removal of a long vein through a series of small incisions made in the leg. The procedure and your release all occur on the same day, and there is minimal recovery time. The removal of the vein causes no circulation problems either, as the larger veins in the leg pick up the slack.

  Ambulatory phlebectomy, which involves the removal of smaller veins through small punctures made on the leg. Anesthesia is located only at the location of the puncture, and like vein stripping, it is done as an outpatient procedure. Recovery time is quick, and there is minimal scarring.

  Endoscopic vein surgery, which is used only in cases where leg ulcers have developed. It involves the use of a tiny camera inserted into the veins to close and then remove them through small incisions. Like all the other surgical procedures, it, too, is performed on an outpatient basis.

Other Procedures

• A catheter-assisted vein closure procedure involves the use of thin tubes inserted into the affected vein that is then heated at the tip. As your doctor slowly draws the catheter out, the heated tip causes the vein to scar and collapse, resulting in a closed and sealed vein. It is typically employed only in cases where the vein is considered large.

  Laser surgery is a newer technology used by doctors to close smaller varicose veins or spider veins. It involves the use of a concentrated and powerful laser to send bursts of light to the vein, causing it to slowly fade and disappear over time. It is the most minimally invasive of all the procedures.