Late access to a phlebologist with advanced varicose veins is the main reason for acting on the disease with a late ointment or gel. Your doctor should prescribe more effective treatment, the most effective of which is surgery for leg varicose veins.
Keep in mind that even surgical removal of the affected vessel does not guarantee complete recovery - the disease can spread to healthy tissues.
Phlebologist - Why contact him
Who should I contact if a varicose vein is suspected? The spread of the disease should not be expected, the first symptoms should be the main reason for seeking medical help. Only the phlebologist can confirm or refute the diagnosis and should be contacted first. Only he can refer to another specialist if necessary.
What symptoms should you see a phlebologist immediately? There are so few of them:
- the bright stars of the blood vessels that appear on the lower extremities;
- difficulty in the legs, usually with severe swelling;
- cramps, which are usually bothersome at night;
- skin color changes, becoming darker and unnatural.
If you don’t rush to the hospital, the disease develops quickly, the spider’s veins start to grow and protrude above the skin. In such cases, the only treatment option is varicose foot surgery, which is prescribed by a phlebologist after a thorough examination.
What types of foot surgeries can a doctor prescribe
Surgical treatment may be prescribed depending on the degree of vascular damage. Only the phlebologist can determine which method is needed to get rid of the disease, but this will require a number of studies.
Types of foot surgery:
- Miniflebectomy. It is performed with minor vascular lesions. During surgery, the doctor makes punctures through which the veins are removed. After the procedure, minor defects remain on the lower limbs, which are almost invisible.
- Phlebectomy. It is the most common but also the most traumatic surgery on the skin, leaving scars behind. The surgeon makes long incisions through which he removes the blood vessels affected by the disease. Rehabilitation is short - the next day the patient can go home.
- Short stripe. The incisions are not made - the surgeon makes several punctures to remove only the diseased part of the vessel.
- Sclerotherapy. A special substance is injected into the affected vessels, which glues the destroyed tissues. There is no postoperative period at all - the patient can go home immediately after the procedure.
- Endovenous coagulation. Laser exposure of affected veins is the safest and fastest method of treatment. Efficacy and pain relief are the main benefits of treatment.
Varicose vein surgeries are the most extreme treatment options, although in most cases they prove to be the most effective.
Laser varicose vein surgery
New methods in medicine can get rid of the affected blood vessels in the lower extremities almost painlessly and with minor injuries. Laser surgery for varicose veins is an excellent alternative to surgical treatment.
When is endovenous coagulation indicated? There are so few reasons for surgery, and they all don’t respond to topical or pill treatment:
- varicose veins involving large and vital blood vessels;
- difficulty and swelling in the lower extremities that do not respond to other treatments;
- trophic changes were found on the skin;
- The lower extremities are covered with ulcers that are not affected by topical medications.
How is the operation going? The surgeon makes an incision in front of the affected vessel and inserts a special probe with a laser tip. The laser glues the affected areas of the vessel, then the next incision is made and vein repair continues.
Laser treatment - what is the advantage of this method over other operations
Despite the significant number of varicose vein surgeries, laser exposure has become popular among patients. A significant role is attributed to the low cost of the procedure, but in general, disease victims are attracted by the lack of pain during surgery and its effectiveness.
Laser treatment has several benefits that also attract patients:
- can go home immediately after surgery and start daily activities;
- the procedure is performed under local anesthesia;
- no effects on the skin;
- the procedure is completed within a few hours;
- does not need to recover after surgery;
- There is absolutely no risk of bruising or bleeding;
- The procedure has virtually no contraindications.
Before surgery, you should have special tests to help determine exactly that there is no other treatment option. Further examination will also reveal whether there are contraindications and whether the laser operation will lead to complications or side effects.
Consequences 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 if surgery has been used, scars remain that can persist for a lifetime. To avoid this, you can find out in advance with your doctor which medications or folk remedies promote healing and prevent scarring.
Another consequence after surgery is relapse of the disease. Even if the procedure was successful, doctors cannot guarantee that healthy tissues will not be affected by the disease. Of course, this will not happen immediately, but it is better to carefully monitor the condition of the pots and see a doctor immediately for the first signs of damage.
You can ask your doctor how to avoid unpleasant consequences immediately after surgery. The phlebologist should not only detail what measures are in place to prevent, but also recommend medications or folk remedies that can be used at home to prevent relapse.
Rehabilitation - What to Do to Avoid Postoperative Complications
Rehabilitation may only be needed after several types of surgery, and this period has its own characteristics. The requirements and rules that the patient must follow are determined separately and individually by the practitioner.
Most often, during the rehabilitation period, medical underwear is prescribed to help reinforce the walls of the vessels on which the surgery was performed. The class and type of compression stocking is only prescribed by a doctor, and in no way can this be done independently - a mistake made during the choice threatens the recurrence of the disease. The duration of wearing medical underwear is also determined by the phlebologist - for some patients several weeks is enough, for others with complications, they have to wear a leotard for a longer period of time.
Another stage of healing is taking special medications that restore blood flow to the vessels that have undergone surgery. Medications are prescribed by only one phlebologist, and many treatments have a number of contraindications that need to be thoroughly examined before taking.
Surgery for varicose veins is almost the only way to get rid of progressive disease. You don’t have to be afraid to see a doctor if the disease develops quickly and inexorably and affects healthy tissues - if you don’t stop the disease right away, even surgery can be helpless.