Varicose veins are associated with numerous complications. One of these complications is phlebitis which refers to inflammation of the affected vessels. Another complication is that blood clots may form within the vessels and lead to embolism. Embolism of blood clots is life threatening and is in fact a medical emergency. Other complications include the development of ulcers especially in the legs due to stagnation of blood. There are a number of things on varicose vein removal nyc residents should know if struggling with the condition.

Problems affecting the veins are a common problem in the United States. The condition affects 50-55% of women and 40-45% of men. Varicose veins affect 1 in every 2 people aged more than 5o years. The risk factors that have been identified include obesity, hormonal changes, physical inactivity and increasing age.

The choice of the method of treatment to use is determined by a number of factors. Disease severity is one of the most important determinants. The more advanced a condition is, the more likely it is that it will be treated invasively. The age and health status of the affected individual has to be assessed so that the surgeon determines whether the individual can tolerate surgery or medications chosen. Other important considerations are personal preference and cost.

Compression stockings are one of the conservative treatments that can be considered. Stockings work by exerting pressure on the affected vessels so that they are no longer visible on the skin surface. There are 3 types of stockings in the market. The support pantyhose have the least amount of pressure, the over-the-counter type exerts moderate pressure and the prescription-strength stocking offers the greatest amount.

Sclerotherapy is recommended for persons that have small-sized veins. This treatment involves injection of a special chemical into the vessels. The chemical works by causing scar formation in the vessel and this helps seal them. Foam sclerotherapy may be done for larger vessels. As the name suggests, a special liquid is injected into the vessels to cause scar formation. The treatment is unsuitable in persons that have a history of deep venous thrombosis.

Surgery is reserved for the very severe cases. There are a number of options available. One of them is known as surgical ligation and stripping. In this treatment, the affected vessel is tied and occluded before being removed from the limb through cuts made on the skin. The veins that are targeted are those that lie superficially. The deeper vessels that are left intact maintain the circulation afterwards.

Being a major surgical operation, there is need for general anaesthesia. In general, the operation is regarded as being safe. In the immediate pot-operative period, the most common side effect is leg pain. There are a number of other possible complications that one should look out for. These include, among others, excessive bleeding, wound infection, swelling and scar formation. Recovery takes between one and four weeks.

Other surgical options of varicose vein removal nyc health centres offer are PIN stripping and ambulatory phlebectomy. A special instrument known as a PIN stripper is used here. The instrument is attached to a vessel and when it is pulled out, it removes the vessel of interest form the limbs. This is either done in the operating theatre or as an outpatient procedure. In ambulatory phlebotomy technique, several hooks are used to pull out the vessel.