Varicose veins are among the most common problems, but also among the most unknown. Partially normalized, little is spoken about their serious consequences for people’s well-being. And indeed, in addition to causing heaviness and discomfort, they also affect our confidence when it comes to showing our legs.
To treat them, there are different non-invasive and non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency or pressotherapy; however, to determine which one you need, it is first necessary to know what type of varicose vein you are dealing with. We tell you what the classifications are and what is the best way to treat them.
Spider veins and reticular varicose veins
The first type—and also the most common—are spider veins and reticular varicose veins, which require a treatment tailored to each patient. They constitute the first visible stage of chronic venous disease, and although the consultation is often for cosmetic reasons, it is essential to rule out via an ultrasound study that there is no insufficiency of larger-caliber veins responsible for their appearance. They can be treated in several ways:
Sclerotherapy: is the reference treatment for many spider veins and reticular varicose veins. It involves injecting a sclerosing agent, in liquid form or as microfoam depending on the characteristics of the vein, which causes controlled inflammation of its wall until achieving progressive closure and subsequent resorption by the body.
Transdermal laser: allows treating certain superficial vessels by applying laser energy through the skin, without the need for puncture, being especially useful for very fine lesions or in selected areas.
Varices Photodynamic Therapy: is the treatment most commonly performed for patients with spider veins. It combines polidocanol microfoam with a specific transdermal laser, which increases treatment efficacy, improves aesthetic results, and, in many cases, reduces the number of sessions required compared with conventional techniques.
Thick or truncal varices
On the other hand, there are thick or truncal varices, which appear when there is insufficiency of the great saphenous veins or other large-caliber venous trunks. Therefore, in this case it is not so much a cosmetic issue; the goal is to correct the reflux that causes the disease.
It can be done without conventional surgery. For this, there are minimally invasive techniques such as endovenous laser. It is a laser technology that is minimally invasive and that directly acts on the affected veins. A very thin optical fiber is introduced inside the vein applying laser light that causes a controlled closure of the vein and is naturally absorbed by the body.
There are also other options such as biological glue or, in certain cases, the ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, which allow replacing conventional surgery in the majority of patients. That is, always tailored to each person’s condition.
