10.02.23
Steps for Successful Vein Ablation Recovery in Arkansas
Varicose veins are extremely common in the United States. Up to 35% of Americans battle this obnoxious affliction. Luckily, it’s not a permanent problem. Thanks to a revolutionary treatment known as vein ablation, you can reduce or completely erase varicose veins.
But once the treatment is complete, there are still some steps you can take at home to help make sure that you continue seeing the results you’re after. At Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center, we believe your vein ablation recovery in Arkansas should be effective and worry-free.
What are varicose veins?
Before you worry about vein ablation recovery in Arkansas, you need to schedule a vein ablation treatment. And before you schedule a vein ablation treatment, you need to understand varicose veins.
Varicose veins are essentially defective veins. Ideally, veins are supposed to transport blood to and from your heart. But occasionally, the veins will malfunction, and the blood will remain trapped in your legs. From there, you might notice that your veins are swelling, bulging against the surface of the skin.
These symptoms will not always be visible; you could have varicose veins and be totally unaware of them.
Do you have varicose veins?
Varicose veins can be hard to identify, and some of them are completely asymptomatic. This is why we don’t schedule a procedure without an in-depth consultation. We want to see you for ourselves; that way, we can make the most informed decisions possible. You can start this process now by taking a look at our virtual consultation tool.
It’s a short questionnaire that will ask you a couple of personal questions about your symptoms, and it will allow us to make some predictions about what treatments might be beneficial for your condition.
Vein Ablation
Vein ablation is a fancy term for a state-of-the-art treatment. When a varicose vein is identified, the simplest option is to eliminate it completely. Don’t worry—this isn’t painful or dangerous, and the procedure is totally convenient. We may provide a small amount of anesthetic to negate any potential discomfort.
We’ll then use a radiofrequency tool to heat specific areas of the vein. This collapses them, which in turn allows the body to absorb the vein. Once this process is complete, the varicose vein will disappear. Ablation treatment only takes a few minutes, and you’ll be free to go home following the procedure.
The Ozark Solution
Our team at Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center is committed to solutions. We’ve seen lots of different afflictions over the years, and we have a wealth of practical experience. Speaking plainly and honestly is one of our top priorities. We’ll tell you what we think is best for you, but if you have any objections, we’ll listen and take your thoughts into consideration.
With our extensive knowledge and background in the vein and artery trade, we can recommend treatment plans that are designed with your specific conditions in mind. In our field, there’s no such thing as “one size fits all.” There are many different vein treatments available for varicose veins.
We’ll be a resource to you every step of the way. From your pretreatment all the way to your vein ablation recovery, we’ll offer practical advice that will make the entire process as convenient as possible.
Prior Treatment
This isn’t a treatment that requires any extensive precare. Once we decide that vein ablation in Arkansas could be a solution for your varicose veins, we’ll sit down and ask you some important questions.
We may ask what medications you’re currently using, just to ensure that they won’t have any adverse effects during the treatment. From there, we can get your procedure scheduled as soon as we can. We want to cut through the fat at Ozark. We understand that you’re busy, so we’ll do anything we can to ensure that your experience with us is simple and uncomplicated.
The Ablation Process
Our own Dr. Haney has completed over 2,600 vein ablations, so it’s safe to say we’re pretty experienced. The procedure isn’t as complicated as you might think.
Into the Vein
First, Dr. Haney will numb the treatment areas with an anesthetic. Immediately following this, he will insert a catheter into the varicose vein. We use ultrasound techniques to map the route of the catheter more accurately. This way, there’s less risk of misplacement.
Closing the Vein
Once the catheter is in place, Dr. Haney will use radiofrequency to superheat the vein, completely closing it off from the rest of the body.
Out of the Vein
From there, Dr. Haney will remove the catheter. The closed vein will be absorbed by the body, and your body will find alternate routes to distribute your blood.
Quick and Painless
In total, the process only takes about an hour. And thanks to the help of that anesthetic, even some of our more anxious patients find the process completely comfortable.
We don’t want to subject our patients to any unnecessary discomfort or pain, so we encourage everyone in our care to be open with their concerns. We can discuss any worries you may have so the entire procedure will run smoothly.
From there, we can go over our recommendations for effective vein ablation recovery, free of any complications.
What to Avoid
Recovery time for this procedure is minimal, though there are some minor considerations that you should keep in mind.
No Air Travel
You shouldn’t fly for two weeks following the surgery. This might seem like a bizarre rule, but the high altitude may increase the risk of a blood clot in your legs. Keeping two feet on the ground will help your body heal as effectively as possible.
No Intense Exercise
You don’t want to plan any vigorous exercise during vein ablation recovery in Arkansas. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t exercise at all, but more on that later. Depending on your line of work, you may have to take a few days off following treatment. Ask your provider if they have any specific questions pertaining to you and your lifestyle.
No Heat
You should also avoid any overly warm pools, baths, saunas, and hot tubs. Anything too hot may interrupt your veins’ healing processes. So do your best to keep the treated leg out of any abnormally hot environments.
Compression Socks
Compression socks are a large part of vein ablation recovery in Arkansas. Many people tend to ignore this step, because the socks aren’t very comfortable. They shouldn’t cause you any serious pain or discomfort, but they are tight—they have to be.
The socks work to keep everything in place. We’ll typically ask you to wear the socks for two weeks, and in that time, your body will continue to absorb the treated varicose vein, redirecting the blood flow to stronger, healthier veins.
Once the two weeks have passed, you can remove the sock and see substantial skin-clearing results.
Keep Walking
Walking is another way to keep your legs healthy during vein ablation recovery in Arkansas. Yes, it’s true—we already warned you against excessive exercise. But moderate, low-energy movement is actually a great way to keep the blood in your legs moving.
This will encourage healthy blood flow, but again, it’s important not to overdo it. You aren’t trying to burn calories or work up a sweat; you just want to ensure that the blood in your legs is pumping as normal. Pick a few times throughout your day and go for a short walk, even if it’s just for a few minutes around the block. Your veins will thank you.
Side Effects
It’s important to keep an eye out for some common side effects as you’re recovering. You’ll likely see some bruising, and you may notice a feeling of pins and needles in the treated leg. These side effects should not last more than a few weeks. If, however, you do notice persistent numbness in your legs, you may want to reach out to us.
We can bring you in for a check-up and ensure that there isn’t something more serious happening as a result of your treatment. Blood clots are also a possible side effect of this treatment, but they’re not common. So, if you’re noticing any discomfort, we may want to take steps to rule out a more serious cause.
Schedule a Consultation
Varicose veins can be a huge source of insecurity for many people. You may insist on wearing long pants, no matter the weather, just avoid sneaking glances and awkward comments. But you shouldn’t have to hide your legs because of an easily-treatable condition! And if you do decide on vein ablation, you won’t have to recover alone.
Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center remains a resource every step of the way. You won’t have to go through vein ablation recovery alone. We’re here to answer your questions and alleviate your stress.
Interested in seeing how we can treat your varicose veins? Reach out to us today, and we can schedule an in-person consultation. We’ll take a look at your varicose veins and decide on a custom treatment plan for you. We have many options to erase varicose veins, like Varithena or sclerotherapy. Stop hiding your varicose veins when you can get rid of them altogether.