Varicose veins
Varicose veins (also known as varicosis) are one of the most common venous disorders – about one in five people suffer from them.
They are easily recognized by their typical appearance in the form of protruding, bluish lines under the skin (usually on the legs). Other symptoms include swollen ankles, feelings of tightness or cramps or a stinging sensation in the legs. This change in the veins can occur due to hereditary weakness of the connective tissue, as a result of illness or also due to lack of exercise, among other things.
What helps against varicose veins?
In early stages, there is a good chance of treatment by wearing compression stockings; however, varicose veins cannot always be completely combated in this way. If varicose veins remain untreated, there is a high risk of severe thrombosis and, in the worst case, life-threatening embolism. There are various medical therapies and operations for the treatment of varicose veins. At Clinic Utoquai we offer non-surgical sclerotherapy.
At a Glance
Technical term: varicose veins/varicosis
Type of anesthesia: none or anesthetic cream
Duration of the procedure: 15-30 minutes
Hospital stay: outpatient
Aftercare: compression bandage for 3 days
Fit for social life: immediately
Fit for work: the following day
Rest period: none
Procedure
The sclerotherapy of the affected vessels is performed in an outpatient procedure and does not require the administration of anesthesia. However, if desired, a light anesthetic cream can be applied in the area of application beforehand. The procedure as well as the cost of the procedure depends on the patient’s findings and is first determined in a detailed consultation.
To remove the varicose veins, we inject a sclerosing agent directly into the dilated vein, which causes the vein walls to stick together. The veins thus rendered useless are gradually broken down by the body. The therapy takes only about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the expense.
After-effects
In the preceding consultation we discuss all risk factors such as allergies, complaints and illnesses of the patient in order to exclude complications during and after the treatment. Inflammation or allergic reactions occur only in the rarest cases. Temporary slight bruising and superficial induration may occur after sclerotherapy.
Aftercare
Following the procedure, a special compression bandage must be worn for about 3 days to ensure that the success of the treatment is not compromised. Failure to follow the doctor’s instructions may result in the reopening of the stuck varicose veins. For optimal aftercare, it is recommended to wear light compression stockings after the first 3 days.
Costs
The costs for the treatment of dilated veins strongly depend on the diagnosed findings. Since this is usually a medically necessary procedure, it is possible to apply to the health insurance company for reimbursement.
