Effective treatment

Varicose veins, swollen veins caused by the collection of excess blood, can be treated with a number of techniques. In mild cases, they may respond to self-help methods like wearing compression stockings, taking frequent walks, elevating the legs once or twice a day, and avoiding tight clothing in the leg and groin area. If such practices don't help or your condition is more advanced, a doctor may suggest other treatments. Sclerotherapy uses tiny needles to inject an irritating solution into small and medium-sized veins, which typically causes them to collapse and disappear. Laser treatment of leg veins is generally limited to smaller spider veins. Ambulatory phlebectomy (fluh-BEHK-toh-mee) is a procedure in which sections of a diseased vein are removed through very small incisions that typically leave only subtle scars. When longer sections of vein need to be removed, a technique called vein stripping may be used. In severe cases where varicose veins have caused sores on the outside of the leg, doctors may perform endoscopic (ihn-doh-SKAWP-ihk) surgery, in which an instrument with a tiny camera is inserted to provide an internal view of the vein during the operation. Whichever method is used, the earlier the veins are treated, the better the chance of success.