Medical Vein Clinic’s doctors typically perform one of two state-of-the art procedures to treat varicose veins, radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, and VenaSeal.

RFA is considered the gold standard and best treatment to get rid of varicose veins. It has a success rate of more than 95% in treating bad veins. RFA is covered by insurance and has minimal recovery time.

With this procedure, we use a local numbing medication at the site of the diseased veins. Then, using ultrasound guidance, we insert a catheter in the lower leg and move it upwards to the start of the bad vein. With each patient we start by identifying and treating the bigger problem source veins---the ones leaking and blowing out the smaller veins. This way, varicose veins are less likely to reoccur.

The RFA catheter treatment uses heat---which the patient does not feel---to make the inside of the bad vein walls “sticky.”  This makes the bad veins close. Closing the bad veins keeps blood from pooling in them and creating bulging varicose veins.

Then the catheter is withdrawn from the leg and we put a compression stocking on the patient’s leg. This keeps the vein walls sticking together.

With radio frequency ablation patients need to follow some procedures for three weeks to ensure their veins stay closed.

Post-treatment, patients wear compression stockings for 21 days and walk 10 to 15 minutes every hour they are awake. This prevents blood clots from forming and helps generate new, good veins. And, no running, straining, lifting anything over 25 pounds.