Top Nonsurgical Options for Veins and Capillaries Treatment

Veins and capillary issues significantly affect an individual’s morale and confidence. Conditions like varicose veins and spider veins can be treated through surgical procedures. Thankfully, aesthetic science has evolved multiple non-invasive treatments for healthy veins and capillaries. Here in this post, you’ll explore some nonsurgical answers to these problems.

But first, let’s understand what these blood vessels are and how they function.

Understanding Veins and Capillaries

Veins and capillaries are blood vessels. The vessel that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart is called a vein. On the other hand, capillaries are smaller in size, and their core function is to connect arteries and veins. Also, these vessels help exchange oxygen, various nutrients, and waste products. If these vessels become weak or damaged, the patient can be affected by spider and varicose veins. These problems are briefed below:

• Spider Veins

The small blood vessels that become larger, wider, and more open symbolize spider veins. They appear red or blue while forming a web-like pattern.

• Varicose Veins

Like spider veins, varicose veins become enlarged and swollen. They primarily affect the legs and feet; they appear dark purple or blue.

The Rise of Nonsurgical Treatments

The evolution of nonsurgical treatments was the need of the hour because people were not comfortable with incisions, which resulted in downtime. So, these treatments were evolved, ensuring minimal invasiveness and reduced recovery time. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that nearly 61% of adults have visible veins. Among them, nonsurgical vein treatments are gradually gaining popularity as convenient and efficient procedures.

What are these treatments? Here they come.

1. Sclerotherapy

A study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment claims that 80–90% of patients reported witnessed relief in pronounced veins after sclerotherapy. It means that the treatment is indeed effective for treating visible veins.

This procedure does not involve any cut or incision. However, a microneedle is used to inject a sclerosant solution into the affected veins. As it goes in, the vein lining gets irritated and, hence, collapses itself. The body’s immune system gradually dissolves it.  

Procedure

Step 1. Injection: Initially, an ultrafine needle is used to penetrate the sclerosant into the problematic vein.

Step 2. Compression: After the drug is injected, doctors compress the treated area with bandages or stockings to close the vein.

Step 3. Follow-Up: Once treated, patients may need to attend multiple sessions. However, the severity of the condition helps determine how many treatments the patient needs.

Benefits

• Because it is minimally invasive, this treatment hardly causes any discomfort. Moreover, they do not need anesthesia. It indicates that this treatment is tolerable.

It takes less than 30 minutes to complete. 

Veins up to 3 millimeters in diameter can be easily treated with it. 

2. Laser Therapy

Laser therapy emphasizes the use of light beams to target and eliminate unwanted veins and capillaries. The blood in the target area uses the laser beam, which weakens the damaged veins. Eventually, the collapsed veins fade away. The American Academy of Dermatology has found that laser therapy has succeeded in 70-80% of superficial veins and capillaries cases. Let’s see the reason by discovering how it works.

Procedure

Step 1. Preparation: The skin is thoroughly cleansed, and then a soothing gel is applied to minimize the sensation in that area temporarily.

Step 2. Laser Application: Using a laser device, the next step is to penetrate the affected areas with a laser beam.

Step 3. Post-treatment: After the treatment, patients may witness slight redness and inflammation in the treated area, which recovers within a few days.

Benefits

• This non-invasive treatment means it does not need injection or incision.

• It is the best fit for administering small to medium-sized veins.

• Since it does not cause any cuts, it minimizes recovery time, and many patients carry out routine activities right after the treatment.

3. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a non-surgical treatment that involves radiofrequency energy. This energy is focused on heating up and closing the ends of the varicose veins. This transfer of energy is done using a catheter, which is inserted into the vein so that its walls can collapse and seal.

Procedure

Step 1. Catheter Insertion: The area is cleaned to put a thin catheter into the affected vein. A small cut is made to insert the catheter.

Step 2. Energy Delivery: Then, the radiofrequency energy is exerted on the vein walls so that their walls can collapse.

Step 3. Closure: Finally, the treated veins collapse and get absorbed over time.

Benefits

• This treatment is minimally invasive, with only a tiny cut or incision.

• Its success rate is high, with a low recurrence of treated veins.

• Patients minimally feel discomfort and recover soon.

4. Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)

A study published in The British Journal of Surgery states that EVLT effectively treats 85-90% of cases of varicose veins with a low rate of complications. Let’s understand what it is.

Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) is a famous spider vein removal treatment that involves the same process but with a slight difference. In this case, laser energy replaces radiofrequency energy. This treatment improves the condition of varicose veins by inserting a laser fiber into them. As the procedure starts, the beam heats and then seals the affected veins.

Procedure

Step 1. Preparation: The laser beam feels like a stinging, which can cause some discomfort. So, local anesthesia is used to temporarily remove the sensation in the affected area. 

Step 2. Laser Fibre Insertion: Then, a catheter is used to introduce a laser fiber into the vein.

Step 3. Laser Application: As the fiber is inside, laser energy is exerted on the affected vein walls so that it can painlessly collapse.

Benefits

This treatment works well on larger veins treatment, which cannot be treated through sclerotherapy. 

Since it does not need extensive surgery, patients take minimal downtime to continue with normal activities within days. 

It shows impressive, long-lasting results. 

5. Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy works wonders by applying extreme cold to the affected veins or capillaries. This bone-chilling temperature pushes them to constrict and, hence, get absorbed by the body. This method is not common and extremely popular, but it can show impressive results in the case of small veins and capillaries malfunctioning. 

Procedure

Step 1. Cooling Application: A cryo-probe is used to cool down the targeted veins. 

Step 2. Monitoring: Then, the skin specialist or doctor continues to monitor for any adverse reaction or discomfort. 

Benefits

This is indeed a nonsurgical veins or capillaries treatment that does not need injections or anesthesia. 

Small or superficial veins and capillaries can be easily treated with it. 

There are hardly any side effects seen, and the recovery is faster. 

Conclusion

Veins become pronounced and appear as spider veins. When veins’ ends open up and the blood does not flow back, this condition is called varicose veins. These two conditions are commonly observed in patients who can now embrace nonsurgical treatments. These treatments can include sclerotherapy, laser therapy, endovenous laser therapy, and radiofrequency energy. These are some of the most common and popular vein treatments whose success rate is continuously rising. Patients hardly see any discomfort or inconvenience after any of these treatments.