Early access to a phlebologist with developed varicose veins is the main reason that it is too late to act on the disease with ointment or gel. The doctor needs to prescribe more effective treatment, the most effective of which is surgery for varicose veins in the legs.
Do not forget that even surgical removal of the affected vessel does not guarantee complete cure - the disease can spread to healthy tissues.
Phlebologist - why contact him
Who should be contacted if varicose veins are suspected? Do not wait for the disease to spread; the first symptoms should be the main reason for seeking medical help. Only a phlebologist can confirm or decline the diagnosis and should be contacted first. Only he can turn to another specialist if necessary.
For which symptoms do you need to see a phlebologist immediately? There are not so few:
- bright vascular stars that appear on the lower limbs;
- A feeling of heaviness in the legs, usually accompanied by severe swelling;
- seizures, which mostly disturb at night;
- Skin tone changes, it becomes darker and more unnatural.
If you do not rush to the hospital, the disease will begin to develop quickly, the spider veins will grow larger and protrude above the skin. The only treatment option in such cases is surgery for varicose veins in the legs, which a phlebologist will prescribe after a thorough examination.
What types of leg surgeries can a phlebologist prescribe?
Depending on the degree of vascular damage, surgical treatment can be prescribed. Only a phlebologist can determine which method is needed to get rid of the disease. However, this requires a number of studies.
Types of leg surgery:
- Miniflebectomy. It is done with small vascular lesions. During the operation, the doctor will make punctures through which the veins will be removed. After the procedure, minor defects remain on the lower extremities that are almost invisible.
- Phlebectomy. The most common, but also the most traumatic, surgery for the skin is surgery that leaves scars. The surgeon makes long cuts through which he removes the vessels affected by the disease. Rehabilitation is short - the patient can go home the next day.
- Short stripping. No incisions are made - the surgeon makes several punctures through which only the diseased part of the vessel is removed.
- Sclerotherapy. A special substance is injected into the affected vessels, it sticks the destroyed tissue. There is no post-operative time at all - the patient can go home immediately after the procedure.
- Endovenous coagulation. Exposure to the affected veins with a laser is the safest and fastest treatment method. Efficiency and painlessness are the main benefits of the treatment.
Surgery for varicose veins in the legs is the most extreme treatment option, although in most cases it is also the most effective.
Laser varicose vein surgery
New methods in medicine make it possible to get rid of the affected vessels of the lower extremities practically painlessly and with minor injuries. Laser surgery for varicose veins is an excellent alternative to surgical treatment.
When is endovenous coagulation indicated? There are not so few reasons for the operation, and none of them respond to local treatment or pill treatment:
- Varicose veins, in which large and important vessels were affected;
- heaviness and swelling in the lower extremities that do not respond to other treatment;
- trophic changes were found on the skin;
- The lower limbs are covered with ulcers that are not affected by topical medication.
How does the operation work? The surgeon makes an incision in front of the affected vessel and inserts a special probe with a laser tip. The laser sticks the affected areas of the vessel, after which the next incision is made and vein repair continues.
Laser treatment - what are the advantages of this method over other operations?
Despite the considerable number of operations on varicose veins, the laser effect has grown in popularity with patients. A significant role here is played by the low cost of the procedure, but more often victims of the disease are attracted by the absence of pain during the operation and its efficiency.
Laser treatment has many advantages that also attract patients:
- You can go home immediately after the operation and start your daily activities.
- the procedure is performed under local anesthesia;
- there are no consequences on the skin;
- The process will be completed in a few hours.
- no need to recover from surgery;
- There is absolutely no risk of bruising or bleeding.
- The procedure has practically no contraindications.
Before the operation, you need to conduct special studies to determine exactly that there is no other treatment option. An additional examination will also determine whether there are any contraindications and whether the laser operation leads to complications or side effects.
Consequences that can occur after the operation
Even if the operation was successful despite the method chosen, there is no guarantee that unpleasant and unexpected consequences will not occur. Most often, especially after surgery, scars are left that can last a lifetime. To avoid this, you can find out with the doctor in advance what drugs or folk remedies will promote healing and prevent scarring.
Another consequence that can occur after an operation is a relapse of the disease. Even if the procedure was successful, doctors cannot guarantee that healthy tissue will not be affected by the disease. This, of course, will not happen immediately, but it is better to carefully monitor the condition of the vessels and immediately consult a doctor at the first signs of damage.
In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, you can ask your doctor immediately after the operation. The phlebologist is obliged not only to specify in detail what measures are used for prevention, but also to recommend drugs or folk remedies that can be used at home to prevent relapse.
Rehabilitation - what you have to do to avoid complications after the operation
Rehabilitation may need to be performed only after several types of operations, and this period has its own characteristics. The requirements and rules that the patient must comply with are determined individually by the specialist.
Most often, during the rehabilitation period, medical underwear is prescribed to strengthen the walls of the vessels on which the operation was performed. The class and type of compression stockings is prescribed only by a doctor, in no case can this be done independently - a mistake in the selection threatens to develop the disease again. The duration of wearing medical underwear is also determined by the phlebologist. For some patients, several weeks are enough, for others they have to wear jerseys for longer if there are complications.
Another phase of recovery is taking special drugs that restore blood flow in the operated vessels. Drugs are prescribed only by a phlebologist, and many of the funds have many contraindications that need to be carefully studied before taking them.
Surgery for varicose veins in the legs is almost the only way to get rid of a progressive disease. You don't need to be afraid to see a doctor if the disease develops rapidly and inexorably and affects healthy tissues. If you don't stop the disease right away, even surgery may be powerless.