You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
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Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin. They are most common in the legs and ankles. You may have them in one or both legs.
They can make your legs ache, hurt, itch, and swell.
Even if you don't have symptoms, you may not like the way the veins make your legs look.
You can treat varicose veins with home care, surgery, or another procedure.
For many people, home treatment relieves pain and other symptoms. If you don't have serious problems from varicose veins, home care may be all that you need. But home treatment won't make your varicose veins go away or look better.
You can:
If you still have pain or other symptoms after trying home treatment for 6 to 12 months, you may want to have surgery or a procedure. If your main concern is how your legs look, you could have treatment whenever you want. Home care won't change how your legs look.
These less invasive procedures close or remove the varicose veins. They can usually be done in your doctor's office or clinic.
Phlebectomy (also called microphlebectomy or stab avulsion) is usually done along with another procedure or surgery to treat varicose veins. Several tiny cuts are made in the skin. The veins are removed through these cuts. Stitches usually aren't needed.
Vein ligation and stripping is a surgical treatment for varicose veins. One or more cuts are made over the vein, and the vein is tied off (ligated) in two places. All or part of the vein between the tied off areas is usually removed (stripped). You'll need general or spinal anesthesia for this surgery. You'll probably have a few stitches.
Laser treatment, radiofrequency closure, and sclerotherapy seem to work as well as surgery.footnote 1
All of the treatments work about the same in how well they close off varicose veins. The treatments work in about 80 to 93 out of 100 people. The treatments may not work for about 7 to 20 out of 100 people.footnote 2
These treatments may also:
Studies show that all of the treatments have a similar risk that the varicose veins may come back.footnote 3
Endovenous laser treatment, radiofrequency closure, and sclerotherapy have some risks:
Vein ligation and stripping also has some risks:
People who have had blood clots in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis) or blood clots and inflammation in a small vein near the surface of the skin (thrombophlebitis) may be at greater risk for problems from surgery for varicose veins.
Your doctor might suggest surgery or a procedure if:
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These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
Living here in Arizona, I wear shorts and skirts a lot. Several years ago, I stopped trying to keep a tan all the time because of the risk of skin cancer. So now that I don't have that brown skin, you can really see my veins. I also started to wonder if the veins were related to the aching I have sometimes in my legs. I talked to my doctor about it and found out that the aching probably is not related to the spider veins. But I decided to have them treated anyway, because I really don't like the way my legs look.
Margaret, age 46
My main reason for treating my varicose veins is to relieve the aching and fatigue. My legs are so tired at the end of the day! My doctor said that I could try surgery, but I don't feel like my legs bother me enough to take the risk, even though she says it's a pretty safe surgery. So we talked about some other options, like these special panty hose that compress the leg veins, and about putting my feet up several times a day. And about walking more. Who would have thought that being on my feet more might make my legs less tired?
Carolyn, age 67
I have several of those long, ropy-looking, twisted blue varicose veins. And my legs are pretty skinny, so they really stand out. I'm not concerned with how my legs look, but I'm a police officer and I'm on my feet all day. At the end of the day, my legs really ache. We talked about treatments like elastic stockings, but in my job that isn't practical. My doctor said that I'm a good candidate for surgery to remove the long veins and that the results should be pretty good.
Diego, age 38
I would like to do something about all my varicose veins, but until my youngest daughter gets out of college, we really can't afford it. I also know that treatment sometimes can cause some discoloration or scarring, which I would also like to avoid. So I wear my support hose, elevate my legs, and wear darker hose with my skirts.
Suzanne, age 56
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to have a procedure for varicose veins
Reasons to try home care for varicose veins
I'm really bothered by the way my legs look because of my varicose veins.
I'm not bothered by how my legs look.
I still have symptoms from my varicose veins, even with home care.
Home care is helping my symptoms.
I'm not worried about possible side effects from a procedure for varicose veins.
I don't want to have the risk of any side effects from a procedure.
Having a procedure is worth it to me, even if there's a chance that my varicose veins will come back.
I don't want to have a procedure if my varicose veins could come back.
My other important reasons:
My other important reasons:
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Having a procedure
NOT having a procedure
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
Author | Healthwise Staff |
---|---|
Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | David A. Szalay MD - Vascular Surgery |
Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin. They are most common in the legs and ankles. You may have them in one or both legs.
They can make your legs ache, hurt, itch, and swell.
Even if you don't have symptoms, you may not like the way the veins make your legs look.
You can treat varicose veins with home care, surgery, or another procedure.
For many people, home treatment relieves pain and other symptoms. If you don't have serious problems from varicose veins, home care may be all that you need. But home treatment won't make your varicose veins go away or look better.
You can:
If you still have pain or other symptoms after trying home treatment for 6 to 12 months, you may want to have surgery or a procedure. If your main concern is how your legs look, you could have treatment whenever you want. Home care won't change how your legs look.
These less invasive procedures close or remove the varicose veins. They can usually be done in your doctor's office or clinic.
Phlebectomy (also called microphlebectomy or stab avulsion) is usually done along with another procedure or surgery to treat varicose veins. Several tiny cuts are made in the skin. The veins are removed through these cuts. Stitches usually aren't needed.
Vein ligation and stripping is a surgical treatment for varicose veins. One or more cuts are made over the vein, and the vein is tied off (ligated) in two places. All or part of the vein between the tied off areas is usually removed (stripped). You'll need general or spinal anesthesia for this surgery. You'll probably have a few stitches.
Laser treatment, radiofrequency closure, and sclerotherapy seem to work as well as surgery.1
All of the treatments work about the same in how well they close off varicose veins. The treatments work in about 80 to 93 out of 100 people. The treatments may not work for about 7 to 20 out of 100 people.2
These treatments may also:
Studies show that all of the treatments have a similar risk that the varicose veins may come back.3
Endovenous laser treatment, radiofrequency closure, and sclerotherapy have some risks:
Vein ligation and stripping also has some risks:
People who have had blood clots in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis) or blood clots and inflammation in a small vein near the surface of the skin (thrombophlebitis) may be at greater risk for problems from surgery for varicose veins.
Your doctor might suggest surgery or a procedure if:
Have a procedure for varicose veins | Use home treatment | |
---|---|---|
What is usually involved? |
|
|
What are the benefits? |
|
|
What are the risks and side effects? |
|
|
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"Living here in Arizona, I wear shorts and skirts a lot. Several years ago, I stopped trying to keep a tan all the time because of the risk of skin cancer. So now that I don't have that brown skin, you can really see my veins. I also started to wonder if the veins were related to the aching I have sometimes in my legs. I talked to my doctor about it and found out that the aching probably is not related to the spider veins. But I decided to have them treated anyway, because I really don't like the way my legs look."
— Margaret, age 46
"My main reason for treating my varicose veins is to relieve the aching and fatigue. My legs are so tired at the end of the day! My doctor said that I could try surgery, but I don't feel like my legs bother me enough to take the risk, even though she says it's a pretty safe surgery. So we talked about some other options, like these special panty hose that compress the leg veins, and about putting my feet up several times a day. And about walking more. Who would have thought that being on my feet more might make my legs less tired?"
— Carolyn, age 67
"I have several of those long, ropy-looking, twisted blue varicose veins. And my legs are pretty skinny, so they really stand out. I'm not concerned with how my legs look, but I'm a police officer and I'm on my feet all day. At the end of the day, my legs really ache. We talked about treatments like elastic stockings, but in my job that isn't practical. My doctor said that I'm a good candidate for surgery to remove the long veins and that the results should be pretty good."
— Diego, age 38
"I would like to do something about all my varicose veins, but until my youngest daughter gets out of college, we really can't afford it. I also know that treatment sometimes can cause some discoloration or scarring, which I would also like to avoid. So I wear my support hose, elevate my legs, and wear darker hose with my skirts."
— Suzanne, age 56
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to have a procedure for varicose veins
Reasons to try home care for varicose veins
I'm really bothered by the way my legs look because of my varicose veins.
I'm not bothered by how my legs look.
I still have symptoms from my varicose veins, even with home care.
Home care is helping my symptoms.
I'm not worried about possible side effects from a procedure for varicose veins.
I don't want to have the risk of any side effects from a procedure.
Having a procedure is worth it to me, even if there's a chance that my varicose veins will come back.
I don't want to have a procedure if my varicose veins could come back.
My other important reasons:
My other important reasons:
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Having a procedure
NOT having a procedure
1. I might be able to treat my varicose veins without having surgery or a procedure.
2. Home treatment can change how my legs look from varicose veins.
3. The kind of procedure I'll have depends on the size of my varicose veins.
1. Do you understand the options available to you?
2. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?
3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?
1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
2. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
By | Healthwise Staff |
---|---|
Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | David A. Szalay MD - Vascular Surgery |
Current as of: March 28, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & David A. Szalay MD - Vascular Surgery
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