Can Diseased Veins Return After Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation?

Varicose veins are raised, blue or purple veins that may look ropey. Around one-third of Americans have this problem, and while many don’t like the way varicose veins look, they can also cause symptoms like feelings of heaviness, tiredness, or even pain. 

The providers at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center offer a few treatments for varicose veins. One of the most popular is radiofrequency ablation, which is a type of minimally invasive endovenous surgery. 

Making the decision to get treatment for varicose veins can feel intimidating, and patients often ask if the veins can come back. 

What causes varicose veins

Your vascular system is made up of veins and arteries. Veins are the blood vessels that bring blood back to your heart and lungs, where it’s reoxygenated. Between each beat of your heart, there’s a split second where gravity exerts its force, and your veins have to prevent the blood from dropping down toward your feet. 

Tiny valves within veins open and close in timing with heartbeats to prevent that backward flow of blood. However, those valves can become leaky and allow blood to pool inside your veins rather than continue forward. It’s that pooling that causes your veins to become enlarged and discolored, and bulge under your skin. 

When that happens, you have varicose veins. Some symptoms include: 

• Leg pain
• Cramping
• An itching sensation
• Burning
• Swelling
• A feeling of heaviness
• Skin discoloration

You can also develop a small clot in the damaged vein, which is a condition called phlebitis. These types of clots aren’t dangerous like deep vein thrombosis, but they can be painful. 

Some people don’t experience pain or discomfort due to varicose veins, but simply don’t like the way they look. 

Minimally invasive endovenous ablation

The most common way to treat varicose veins is to close them off, which causes them to collapse. We use one of two different types of endovenous ablation to do that. 

Endovenous means “inside a vein,” and when you have this procedure, your surgeon inserts a catheter into the damaged vein. 

Then, they either deliver a tiny pulse of radiofrequency energy to heat up the vein and seal it off (radiofrequency ablation), or they deliver a tiny bit of a chemical (chemical ablation) to do the same thing. Radiofrequency ablation is the better approach for more complex issues. 

Our team can treat multiple veins during a single procedure. Afterward, we wrap a bandage around your leg to help your blood circulate. We ask you to come back for a follow-up visit about a week later so we can evaluate the results. 

What to expect

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure, which means you have only a small incision, and can expect to heal more quickly than you would from a traditional procedure. You also have less risk of complications like infections or scarring. 

The chance that your varicose veins might return after your procedure is very low. Radiofrequency ablation treats the source of your varicose veins. But it’s important for you to exercise regularly, follow a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight to prevent damage to other veins. 

If you smoke, find a smoking cessation program to help you quit. Quitting improves your health overall and can protect your vascular health. We may also recommend you wear compression socks if you’re going to be sitting or standing for an extended period of time. 

If you’re tired of how your varicose veins look, or if you’re experiencing uncomfortable symptoms because of them, schedule a consultation with one of the experts at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center. You may be surprised by how easy treatment can be. 

Call or request your appointment online today.