No treatment
Some patients opt not to treat their varicose veins. They may live their entire life with varicose veins and never develop complications more serious than a chronic dull ache.

Compression Hose
Compression hose aid in the treatment of the symptoms of varicose veins by squeezing the blood back out of the legs by means of an upward gradient compression. In many cases this will relieve discomfort. It does not treat the underlying disease.

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
Under the guidance of ultrasound a needle is inserted into the greater saphenous vein and a chemical is injected directly into the diseased vein. This chemical irritates the vein wall causing it to collapse and scar down.

Endo Venous Ablation
A catheter is inserted into the greater saphenous vein at the level of the knee. This is done using a needle, similar to starting an intravenous, although sometimes a small incision may be needed to locate the vein. A laser fiber is then fed up the catheter into the proximal portion of the greater saphenous vein. The leg is then anesthetized. The laser fiber is slowly withdrawn as it fires energy into the vein causing damage to the vein wall. This damage results in the greater saphenous vein closing down. This procedure is called EVLT, Endo Venous Laser Treatment.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy
After Endo Venous Laser Therapy has destroyed the proximal greater saphenous vein persistent branches of the varicose veins may be surgically removed. This is done through tiny incisions with an instrument that resembles a crochet hook. The veins are hooked and pulled out of the leg. The incisions are closed with steri-strips. No sutures are required. In most cases you can return to work the following day.

Ligation and Stripping
The traditional surgical method used to remove varicose veins. This procedure involves numerous incisions requiring suturing and a prolonged recovery period. This is rarely necessary with the advent of the newer, minimally-invasive procedure mentioned above.