Do you have protruding or very discolored veins on your leg that you consider unsightly enough to be removed? If so there is a safe way to have it or a number of veins removed. Sometimes you do not have to pay for this procedure. If the veins are painful because they obstruct blood flow then insurance (government insurance if you live in Canada or Europe) may cover it. However if it is only for cosmetic reasons then you might have to pay for the cost of having them removed.
The veins are most likely eligible for insurance if any aching, swelling, burning or night cramps are also involved.
A treatment known as Sclerotherapy is used to treat malformed blood vessels such as varicose veins and spider veins. A substance is injected into the vessels, which makes them shrink, so that they are no longer as painful or as obstructive to the circulatory system.
The procedure is also used for children and young adults with vascular or lymphatic malformations. In adults, sclerotherapy is mainly used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It is also sometimes used to clear swollen lymph nodes as well as might be the case if someone has cancer.
This type of vein treatment usually may also involve the excision of the vein after it has been “killed” and shrunk. The vein is usually removed via minor surgery done with a scalpel or a laser. However most veins scar and collapse and then reabsorbed into the surrounding tissue.
Be forewarned that the results of the treatment are not usually visible immediately. It may take up to a month to see the vein completely disappear. Sometimes a couple of visits to have the vein treated are required to make it disappear completely.
Sclerotherapy has been used in the treatment of varicose veins for over 150 years. The latest developments in the technology are procedures that use ultrasound or foam. It is generally seen as a safe minor out-patient operation but of course your doctor will be the best person to assess if your varicose vein issues warrant a sclerotherapy procedure. The procedure is never recommended for pregnant women even though pregnancy is a common cause of the development of varicose veins. You are supposed to wait until after you have given birth before scheduling a sclerotherapy appointment.