Those ugly, painful varicose veins. You can strip them away, inject them away, or eliminate them with radiofrequency (RF) energy.
While vein expert Jeffrey Gosin, MD is experienced with all means of varicose vein removal, he and our team at Shore Vascular and Vein Center recommend RF ablation to permanently eliminate those dysfunctional veins. Whenever possible, we evaporate unsightly veins with FDA-approved RF ablation at our Somers Point, New Jersey offices.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that 20% of adults in the United States have varicose veins. If you’re among that crowd, read on to find out how RF ablation can give you — and your legs — relief.
How RF ablation works
Unlike vein surgery, which requires incisions and may have a long recovery time, RF ablation is minimally invasive. Your doctor inserts a slender surgical tube called a cannula into the damaged vein through a small puncture, watching its progress through ultrasound guidance.
Once the cannula’s in place, Dr. Gosin inserts an electrode that transmits a high-energy RF current into the diseased vein. The energy triggers a spasm in the vein that causes the collagen to shrink. The vein then contracts and withers away. Your body absorbs the vein and reroutes your circulation.
What RF ablation feels like
Your RF ablation treatment is pain-free, and your recovery is quick. Before the procedure, we disinfect and then numb the treatment area. You may feel a slight prick as Dr. Gosin inserts the cannula. He then administers an anesthetic through the cannula.
In 20-second cycles, Dr. Gosin treats about 3-7 cm of diseased vein with RF energy. The entire treatment usually takes about 20 minutes.
You don’t need stitches to close the insertion point. We simply protect it with a small bandage.
How RF ablation makes you feel … afterward
After your varicose veins evaporate, your legs look better and feel better. Gone are the marring, twisted, and bulging veins that make you self-conscious. You confidently and happily wear bathing suits, shorts, or skirts whenever you please.
If you’ve had symptoms, such as leg fatigue and cramping, those resolve, too. Once Dr. Gosin removes the dysfunctional varicose veins, your circulation reroutes itself to healthy veins. Your blood flows freely, without pooling and losing momentum as it tries to navigate through faulty blood valves and weakened veins.
You may need to take off about two days from work and other activities after your RF treatment. If you feel discomfort or pain, you can manage it with over-the-counter medications. Dr. Gosin recommends wearing compression stockings to aid healing for about two weeks.
When you treat your varicose veins with RF ablation, you don’t just improve the look of your legs, you improve their health, too. If your varicose veins are too small, too large, or too twisted, you may not be a candidate for RF ablation.
Find out if RF ablation — or another vein-removal therapy — is right for your varicose veins by calling us today for an appointment at 609-297-5992. You can also use the handy online contact form.
