Varicose vein treatments and medical implications explained

Vascular surgeon Sofoklis Trachanellis of Metropolitan Hospital provides insights into the medical implications and modern treatments of lower limb varicose veins. While often viewed as an aesthetic concern, varicose veins can lead to serious medical complications such as thrombosis, hemorrhage, skin alterations like lipodermatosclerosis, and chronic ulcers.

Symptoms may include pain, fatigue, heaviness, itching, and skin discoloration. Trachanellis notes that definitive treatment requires invasive procedures, as non-invasive methods cannot induce remission or eliminate unsightly veins.

Modern, less invasive techniques include endovenous LASER, radiofrequency (RF), and the use of cyanoacrylate glue to join the saphenous vein. These newer methods offer painless treatment, require no incisions or sutures, and involve shorter recovery periods, often allowing patients to return home within hours without significant postoperative discomfort.