Care varies depending on the severity of varicose veins. Basic treatment includes the following: elastic compression, sclerotherapy (see below), elevation of the legs and preventive measures to prevent the problem from worsening. In terms of spider veins spider web, sclerotherapy may be enough.

Treatment for varicose veins usually needs to be repeated, usually every year or every 2 years, because new varicose veins form.

Elastic compression

Elastic compression socks, stockings or tights are equally useful for relieving varicose veins existing ones than to prevent the appearance of new varicose veins. They act as a “second layer” of muscles which exert a active pressure on the superficial veins. The pressure is stronger at the ankle than towards the thigh, which facilitates venous return. They also warn varicose ulcers. However, since they do not cure varicose veins, as soon as you stop wearing them, the affected veins remain dilated, which brings back the initial discomfort.

To maximize the comfort of these stockings, it is better to put them on in the morning before getting up. Putting them on while lying down prevents a quantity of blood from descending and stagnating, at least in part, in the legs. Ideally, they should be worn all day.

Their degree of compression is variable. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm hg) and is determined by the doctor. Compression greater than 20 mm hg requires a prescription from a doctor.

Sclerotherapy

This treatment, which does not require anesthesia or recovery time, is ideal for patients with new varicose veins. The doctor injects an irritating solution into the small veins superficial affected, causing them to close. The blood is forced back to other non-varicose veins. The sclerotic veins gradually subside. They generally do not leave traces. There is no problem destroying varicose veins, since they are no longer performing their functions.

For the treatment of spider veins, we resort to microsclerotherapy (use of very fine needles for the injection).

La sclerotherapy may require that the same vein be treated several times, but it usually gives good results. However, it does not prevent the formation of new varicose veins in neighboring veins.

It is possible to treat varicose veins medium caliber by sclerotherapy. The doctor can then guide himself using ultrasound imaging.

surgery

The surgery is often preceded by an ultrasound of the veins by ultrasound in order to know the severity of the damage.

Ambulatory venotomy. During this procedure, the affected small veins are extracted by making micro-incisions using a special hook. Local anesthesia is performed.

Laser surgery. A variety of laser treatments are offered. We intervene on the surface of the skin and inside the vein (endovenous laser). A laser fiber is inserted into the diseased vein. The heat generated forces the vein to close in on itself.

Venous surgery by endoscopy. This intervention is used in more serious cases. It requires anesthesia. It is done using a tiny video camera that is inserted into the leg through a small incision to see and to close the veins. These are then extracted by making small incisions.

Stripping. This classic intervention, also called “stripping”, is used in severe cases: it consists of extracting the affected veins from each of the legs by making small incisions. Depending on the age and severity of the problem, treatment may require hospitalization from 1 to 5 days followed by recovery from 3 to 21 days.

CHIVA (Hemodynamic surgery for venous insufficiency on an outpatient basis). This operation reduces the venous pressure without performing an ablation. The affected superficial veins are ligated, forcing blood to pass through the deep ones. The ligated veins no longer fill, deflate on their own, and become less noticeable and less painful.