Veins
Vascular Surgery
We offer minimally invasive methods for solving vein problems.
Services and treatment methods provided at our center include:
- Doppler ultrasound of lower extremity blood vessels – painless, non-invasive diagnostics
- Endovenous laser ablation – laser surgery for varicose veins
- Sclerotherapy – ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy
What are varicose veins?
Venous disease in the legs affects up to a third of the population, twice as often in women as in men. Causes can vary, with the most common being: lifestyle, inactivity, leg injury, pregnancy, tobacco product use, genetic predispositions, etc.
While arteries carry blood from the heart to peripheral parts of the body, the role of veins and their valves is to return blood from superficial veins to deep veins, and then back to the heart. In the case of varicose veins, the venous valves cannot perform this function properly, meaning they don’t close correctly. In these cases, blood from the deep veins returns to the superficial venous system. Due to this backward flow, called reflux, venous blood is retained in the leg. The venous walls dilate, creating snake-like protrusions or varicose veins. Such a blood vessel is no longer able to perform its usual function of pumping blood to the heart.
In addition to aesthetic issues, varicose veins can significantly reduce our quality of life, and if not treated in time, can lead to more severe complications. Some symptoms include:
- Pain, heaviness in the legs, especially at the end of the day, or after long periods of sitting or standing
- Swelling of the legs
- Itching, skin changes (color, dry, tight skin)
- Bleeding after a minor injury, etc.
Treatment doesn’t have to be expensive and painful. It’s important to start with diagnostics and choose the correct treatment method for long-lasting and successful results.
Diagnostics – Doppler ultrasound of blood vessels.
A detailed examination of the venous system using Doppler ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive diagnostic method that measures the intensity of flow and direction of blood streaming through the vein, providing the best insight into the presence of damage, degree, and location of the disorder.
Treatment methods
Endovenous laser ablation
At our center, we use the Biolitec Leonardo laser, a minimally invasive laser system for painless and efficient treatment of varicose veins. Biolitec’s methods are among the best and most advanced in the world and are number one in vein treatment.
The heat released at the tip of the laser probe (photothermal effect) causes changes within and in the venous blood vessel wall, after which the vein contracts. The ultimate outcome is the closure of the flow through the treated part of the vein.
Candidates for laser treatment?
It is necessary to perform a Doppler examination to determine which vein is the cause. No special patient preparation is required. The operation is performed under local anesthesia, and the procedure usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The patient starts walking immediately after the procedure. If needed, and as recommended by a doctor, pain medication can be used. After the operation, it is necessary to wear compression stockings during the day for a period of two weeks. During recovery, it is recommended to walk for 30 minutes several times a day.
Laser advantages
- No hospitalization required
- Lower risk of complications compared to traditional surgical treatment
- Operation performed under local anesthesia, avoiding the risk of general and regional anesthesia required for traditional surgical treatment
- Excellent aesthetic effect
- Practically painless and immediate postoperative recovery
- Quick return to regular daily activities
- Completely safe procedure even during summer months
Precautions and side effects
Bruises on the skin, slight swelling, and a feeling of tension or pain are normal occurrences and usually disappear after a few days. The procedure itself may affect nerves located near the veins, but these occurrences are much rarer than in traditional vein surgery. In this case, patients may experience numbness, tingling, or other sensations. In rarer cases, painful scars or keloids may appear on the skin. Other complications, infections, embolisms, and thromboses are very rare. Most side effects, such as redness, pain in the groin or thigh, are temporary in nature and result from the laser’s thermal effect. Pain is most pronounced 3-5 days after surgery, and all mentioned issues disappear a few days after the intervention. Compared to traditional vein surgery (stripping), the mentioned side effects are negligible, with a much lower average frequency and extent of these occurrences and a significantly faster recovery.
It is important to emphasize that the procedure is completely safe to perform even during the summer months.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is primarily a treatment for capillaries on the legs, as well as reticular veins, spider veins, and the treatment of smaller varicose veins. The intervention is performed by injecting a sclerosing agent into the vein, which irritates the vein wall, causing the blood vessel to constrict and close permanently. The solution injected can be in liquid form or foam form. After sclerotherapy, fibrous tissue grows through the vein. During the intervention, the sclerosing agent is injected directly into the vein using a very small needle. The amount and concentration of the sclerosing solution depend on the diameter and extent of the affected veins. The goal of the intervention is to induce changes in the treated blood vessel without damaging surrounding structures.
The number of treatments is individual. Typically, the intervention needs to be repeated two to three times. Interventions are repeated at intervals of four to six weeks.
Advantages of sclerotherapy:
- Intervention does not require anesthesia
- Recovery is immediate
- No incisions or scars
Precautions and side effects
Side effects such as itching, bruising, skin darkening, or hyperpigmentation are usually temporary in most cases.
It is important to emphasize that the procedure is completely safe to perform even during the summer months.