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How to get rid of varicose veins?
Do your varicose veins bother you visually or cause pain? It may be time to consider treatment. Here we compare the options, including non-invasive echotherapy.
- Varicose veins affect at least 3 in 10 people and can be treated at any stage.
- Classic options include sclerotherapy, laser, radiofrequency and vein stripping.
- Echotherapy (HIFU) is the only 100% non-invasive treatment, with no incision.
- It leaves no scar and lets you return to your activities immediately.
- The right choice depends on your health, vein severity and expectations.
Are your veins only getting bigger and more painful? Do they bother you visually? It might be time to think about getting rid of your varicose veins. It can feel daunting, but the right treatment will improve your life. Below we go through the options, including the non-invasive one: echotherapy.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged veins. Any vein close to the skin can become varicose, but they most often affect the legs, where standing and walking raise the pressure in the lower-body veins.
At least 3 in 10 people are affected, and women are more likely to develop them. Other risk factors include older age, genetics, obesity, pregnancy and jobs that involve long periods of standing.
In a healthy vein, one-way valves keep blood moving up towards the heart. In a varicose vein the valves fail, blood flows backwards and pools, and the vein swells and bulges under the skin.
The available treatments
For many people varicose veins are a cosmetic concern; for others they cause heavy, itchy legs, skin changes or aching pain. Whatever the reason, choosing a treatment means weighing up a few options. For a closer look at the gentler routes, see our article on treating varicose veins without surgery.
| Criterion | Echotherapy (SONOVEIN®) Recommended | Sclerotherapy | Laser / radiofrequency | Vein stripping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fully non-invasive (no incision, no needle in the vein) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No scar | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No general anaesthesia | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Immediate return to activity | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Treats from outside the body | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
The most recent advance is echotherapy, which uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). It is the only 100% non-invasive method and does not need an operating theatre. As Professor Mark Whiteley puts it, it is the only technique that treats from outside the body, so it leaves no scar and lets the patient resume normal activity immediately.
Taking your decision
A few things help you choose the treatment that best fits your needs:
- your overall health;
- the severity of the underlying chronic venous insufficiency;
- your expectations and any fears, for example a fear of surgery.
Most traditional treatments are reimbursed when there is a medical reason. Echotherapy may be the better choice if you are specifically looking for a non-invasive option: performed with the robotic SONOVEIN® platform, it leaves no scars and lets you return to daily life straight away.
Is echotherapy right for you?
Echotherapy could suit you if you answer yes to at least one of these:
- Do you have visible varicose veins, or even open ulcers?
- Do your legs often feel heavy or itchy?
- Are you unhappy with a previous treatment?
- Do you want to remove varicose veins without surgery or general anaesthetic?
- Do you need an immediate return to everyday life, with very little time off work?
With the robotic SONOVEIN® platform, echotherapy treats the vein from outside the body. There is no scar, no general anaesthetic, and you can return to your daily activities straight away.
Interested in treating your varicose veins with echotherapy? Wondering whether it is available near you? A growing network of centres is already equipped with the SONOVEIN.
Questions fréquentes
What are the treatment options for varicose veins?
The main options are foam sclerotherapy, laser surgery, radiofrequency ablation, vein stripping and echotherapy, the only fully non-invasive method, which uses focused ultrasound.
What is the least invasive way to treat varicose veins?
Echotherapy is the only 100% non-invasive treatment. It uses high-intensity focused ultrasound to close the vein from outside the body, with no incision or needle in the vein.
Does echotherapy leave a scar?
No. Because echotherapy treats from outside the body, it leaves no scar and lets you resume normal activity immediately.
Is varicose vein treatment covered by insurance?
Most traditional treatments are reimbursed when there is a medical reason. Coverage for echotherapy depends on your country and centre, so ask your specialist.
How do I choose the right treatment?
Consider your overall health, the severity of the venous insufficiency, and your expectations or fears, then discuss them with a vein specialist.