Info. Korea's Varicose Veins Treatment
Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins, as we know them often, are symptoms of blue blood vessels appearing on the legs, causing the blood vessels to protrude. It becomes unsightly in appearance, blood stagnates, and the legs become heavy and tired easily, and in some cases, pain similar to arthritis and neuralgia is felt.
Even if the blood vessels are not lumpy, if the legs are swollen frequently and the constant numbness and pain continue, you may have varicose veins. ‘Latent varicose veins’ is characterized by invisible symptoms, unlike general varicose veins. Blood vessels do not protrude and there are no red or blue symptoms, so it is easy to neglect.
Accurate diagnosis of varicose veins can be confirmed through ultrasound examination. There are many patients with varicose veins where blood reflux can be confirmed through ultrasound even if the veins are not bulged. There are many asymptomatic symptoms, and symptoms such as fatigue / heavy pressure / burning / pulling sensation / swelling / stinging / skin discoloration / ulceration and keratosis may appear in that order.
Causes of Varicose Veins
It is known that the cause of varicose veins is that the blood vessels in the legs are stretched and the elasticity of the blood veins is lowered. It is not due to aging, but congenital valve weakness or venous valve dysfunction.
When the valve is broken, the blood cannot rise to the heart through the vein and becomes full due to regurgitation, which increases venous blood pressure. If left unattended for a long period of time, the veins cannot withstand this pressure and gradually tortuous, increasing the length of the blue veins.
Varicose veins in the lower extremities have little symptoms in the early stages because the amount of blood refluxed from the malfunctioning valve is small, but as time goes on, the amount of refluxed blood gradually increases. At this time, a feeling of pressure in the legs, cramps, and fatigue occur. Most of them are left untreated because there are no special symptoms, but if it persists, the circulation of the veins is not smooth and the waste products accumulate between the tissues, causing dermatitis, thrombophlebitis, and skin ulcers.
Meanwhile, varicose veins are also appearing in men, and the number of men receiving treatment is increasing. Causes include obesity, smoking, drinking alcohol, and vigorous exercise.
6 causes of varicose veins
1. Age
As a person gets older, the valves in the veins weaken.
2. Gender
In women, due to pregnancy, childbirth, and the influence of female hormones, veins dilate and the valve function decreases.
3. Inheritance
If you have varicose veins in your family, you are 30-40% more likely to develop it than those who don't.
4. Obesity
Increased abdominal pressure due to being overweight increases the pressure on the veins of the lower extremities and increases the possibility of causing varicose veins
5. Position
Standing for a long time can cause or worsen varicose veins due to poor blood flow to the lower extremities.
6. Lifestyle
The habit of cross-legging, tight-fitting bottoms and boots worsen the blood-draining function of the leg muscles, causing blood to stagnate.
Treatment of Varicose Veins in Korean Hospitals
<Before treatment>
Physical examination: Check up for complications such as blood vessel tone, protrusion, pigmentation, and eczema, and check the history of surgery, systemic disease, and drug use as well.
Vascular ultrasound examination: Vascular ultrasound is a method of analyzing the reflected ultrasound by sending ultrasound to the blood vessels. Through this, it is possible to know the presence or absence of a vascular disease, such as a blocked or narrowed blood vessel, and the location of the disease. It is also one of the diagnostic tests for varicose veins that can check the overall condition of the inside of blood vessels, such as the location of reflux occurrence, reflux rate and time, and the amount of reflux.
<Surgery>
Mild Case
If varicose veins are detected relatively early and the symptoms are not severe, medical compression stockings or venous circulation improving agents can be prescribed. At this time, the normal blood vessels are visible, but only conservative treatment, appropriate exercise and rest, and wearing compression stockings can relieve symptoms to some extent. However, in the advanced state of the disease, simple and conservative treatment becomes difficult. Therefore, early treatment is important because blood vessels dilate over time.
- Diet
- Wear compression stockings
- Taking venous circulation improving drugs
Severe Case
When conservative treatment fails to solve the vascular problem, which is the main cause of varicose veins, various methods such as intravenous laser surgery, radiofrequency, and VenaSeal are used to block the blood vessels. Because there are various treatment methods, it is good to check the health of each individual and make a necessary treatment plan according to the condition of the patient.
1. Vasosclerosis
This is a procedure that fibrosis by injecting a sclerosing agent directly into the blood vessels that cause varicose veins. It is used to treat venous veins, which are small tributaries.
Procedure: 1 minute treatment for one problematic vessel / No thermal or physical damage / Can be performed immediately after ultrasound examination
Sequence: Exact cause of vein examination through ultrasound examination of blood vessels > Inject hardener while confirming lesion through ultrasound image > Constriction and occlusion of blood vessels that have been administered with hardener > Wear compression stockings and check and manage treatment progress
2. Laser treatment
An optical fiber that is slightly thicker than the thickness of a hair is inserted into the vein and irradiated with a laser to heat the blood vessel in question. If varicose veins have advanced a lot and the veins are severely tortuous, it is difficult to perform the procedure.
Procedure: About 15 minutes of treatment for one problematic vessel / You can be discharged on the same day after the procedure / Local anesthesia using an injection needle
Sequence: Exact cause of vein examination through ultrasound examination of blood vessels > Injection of stabilizer > After disinfection, laser tube is injected into problematic vein under ultrasound equipment guidance > Local anesthesia around the treatment site > Laser irradiation inside blood vessel > The irradiated venous blood vessels are closed and blood backflow is prevented.
3. Radiofrequency Therapy
A high-frequency catheter is inserted into the blood vessel and the cause vein is closed by irradiating 360 degrees of heat lower than the laser. Less pain and faster recovery
Procedure: About 15 minutes of treatment for one problematic vessel / You can leave the hospital on the same day after the procedure / No sedation anesthesia, no incision required
Sequence: Exact cause of vein examination through vascular ultrasound examination > Injection of stabilizer > After disinfection of the affected area, a high-frequency tube is injected into the problem vein under the guidance of ultrasound equipment > Local anesthesia around the treatment site > 360-degree high-frequency heat energy irradiation inside the blood vessel > The venous blood vessels irradiated with high frequency are closed and blood backflow is prevented.
4. VenaSeal
VenaSeal injection, called a new medical technology for varicose veins, is a safe procedure that has been officially approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It is a method of closing the blood vessels where reflux occurs with a bioadhesive rather than heat. There is no need to wear compression stockings after treatment. If your veins are very tortuous, choose VenaSeal, a liquid bioadhesive.
Procedure: About 15 minutes to treat one problematic vessel / No thermal or physical damage / Same day discharge after treatment / No sedation anesthesia, no incision required / No need to wear compression stockings after surgery
Sequence: Exact cause and vein examination through ultrasound examination of blood vessels > Local anesthesia of the skin > After disinfection of the affected area, a VenaSeal injection tube is injected into the vein in question under the guidance of ultrasound equipment > Apply the VenaSeal adhesive to the blood vessels at intervals of 1 cm and 3 cm > Treated blood vessels are closed to prevent backflow of blood
<After Treatment>
After treatment, follow-up care should be thoroughly performed. This disease often recurs after surgery. Varicose veins have a high probability of recurrence after surgery due to the characteristics of a chronic progressive disease. Because blood vessels are not completely blocked, new blood vessels may form in the surgical site, and varicose veins may recur as new blockages occur in normal blood vessels and penetrating veins.
Precautions After Varicose Veins Treatment
- Get enough rest
- Compression stockings are recommended to be worn continuously for at least 1 week
- Smoking and alcohol should be avoided for 1 month after treatment
- Recommended to do light walking and stretching exercises
- The feeling of tightness in the treated area gradually disappears with the recovery period
- Recommended to sleep with your legs located higher than your heart
- Sauna and bathing for more than 30 minutes can be done 2-3 weeks after treatment
Consultation & Reservation at Varicose Veins Specialized Hospital in Gangnam, Seoul
